Julie
Desbordes

Born in Limoges, France, Julie Desbordes made her conducting debut at the age of 17. Her talent was recognized early — she won First Prize at the French National Conducting Competition in Paris and was named Co-Director of the Harmonie Municipale de Limoges at just 21.

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting from the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, where she studied under Marin Alsop after years of private mentorship with Gustav Meier. Her conducting teachers also include Raffi Armenian, and she previously earned master's and bachelor's degrees in conducting and trumpet performance from conservatoires in France and Canada.

Today Julie leads four ensembles across greater Phoenix — Salt River Brass, the Philharmonia Orchestra at Arizona State University (where she also serves on the conducting faculty), the Phoenix Youth Symphony's Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Symphony of the Southwest in Mesa, succeeding Cal Stewart Kellogg.

A passionate advocate for El Sistema–inspired programs that transform children's lives through music, Julie was a featured cast member in Jamie Bernstein's documentary film Crescendo! The Power of Music. She is a regular presenter at Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, leading educator workshops that bridge the worlds of professional performance and music education.

Her guest-conducting career spans Hong Kong, Malaysia, Venezuela, Cuba, Taiwan, and orchestras across the Americas and Europe. Before Arizona, she directed community and youth orchestras in New York City, including the Turtle Bay Youth Orchestra and the Chelsea Symphony. Under her baton, Salt River Brass continues to expand its artistic ambition, community reach, and partnerships with guest artists from across the brass world.