Her dual identity as a conductor and cellist continues to shape her artistic approach, bringing together deep instrumental understanding, collaborative leadership and a commitment to creating new pathways in classical music.

“Today, it is more mysterious than ever what it takes to be a conductor, but you can immediately recognise when someone possesses that certain something. Margarita Balanas has it.”

- Maestro Paavo Järvi

As a soloist Margarita has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, Sydney Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, Foundation Louis Vuitton, and with the Munich Philharmonic, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Estonian Festival Orchestra, Saarländisches Staatsorchester, Deutsche Philharmonie Merck, Kammerphilharmonie Ingolstadt, Sinfonietta Riga, Estonian Festival Orchestra. She’s participated in Dresdner Musikfestspiele, the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival, International Cello Festival Shanghai, Moritzburg Festival, and Festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier.

"Margarita Balanas performed with technical brilliance and expressive power, shaping delicate and deeply stirring tones and bringing the work brilliance and richness."

- Johannes Seifert, Augsburger Allgemeine

Margarita has performed with conductors including Paavo Järvi, Ben Palmer, Ariel Zuckermann, Gabriel Bebeșelea, Carlos Izcaray, Chung Min, Aivis Greters, Anthony Gabriele, Shi-Yeon Sung, Modestas Pitrėnas, Chloé Van Soeterstède, Robertas Šervenikas, Gintaras Rinkevičius and Māris Sirmais.

Margarita graduated with honors from the Royal Academy of Music. She studied with Mats Lidstrom and since 2014 was mentored by Lynn Harrell.

Yet her path there began far from any classical stage. Born in a small Latvian town with no family background in classical music, she was singing rock 'n' roll on stage by the age of two, and busking on the streets with her siblings at age eight to earn money for her first cello and fund her participation in international competitions.

Margarita’s career in music began far from any classical stage. Born in a small Latvian town with no family background in classical music, she was singing rock 'n' roll on stage by the age of two, and busking on the streets with her siblings at age eight to earn money for her first cello and fund her participation in international competitions.

Find out more Decca Classics: From Busking Siblings to the World Stage: The Balanas Sisters Sign to Decca Classics

Margarita Balanas is Latvia’s first woman to conduct symphony orchestras. She held the position of Assistant Conductor to Paavo Järvi at the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich during the 2023-2025 seasons.

“the latest voice in the dialogue about what the future of classical music might look like.”

- The Arts Desk

Margarita is a Decca Classics recording artist and a recipient of the Latvian Grand Music Award. She has led orchestras including the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen, Argovia Philharmonic, Jeonju Symphony Orchestra (South Korea), Orquestra do Algarve, Baltic Sea Philharmonic and Fidelio Orchestra. Her upcoming engagements include debuts with ADDA SIMFÒNICA Alicante and Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen tour.

Margarita graduated with honors from the Royal Academy of Music and was awarded the prestigious Bicentenary Scholarship. She completed her Professional Diploma in Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London with a full scholarship, studying under Sian Edwards. Her conducting mentors and teachers include Paavo Järvi Neeme Järvi, Ben Palmer, Sigmund Thorp and Leonid Grin. In recognition of her exceptional dual artistry as a conductor and cellist, and significant contributions to classical music, the Royal Academy of Music produced a short documentary. In 2026 , in recognition of her achievements, Margarita was named Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM).

In 2024, Margarita founded ANONIMI, London’s newest orchestra, created to bring together exceptional young musicians and explore bold artistic concepts. As Founder and Conductor, she has developed ANONIMI into a distinctive new voice in classical music, becoming the first orchestra-in-residence at Ladbroke Hall, London. In 2026, Margarita launched ANONIMI concert series at Ladbroke Hall, presenting collaborations with international artists including Samuel Mariño (soprano), Kristīne Balanas (violin), and Martin James Bartlett (piano) amongst others. The orchestra’s last season concluded with a critically acclaimed performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, featuring male soprano Samuel Mariño. The concert series and residency continues into 2027 with a season opening concert on September 30th 2026. ANONIMI will be going on a European tour in 2027.