Damali Willingham is a conductor, composer, and bassoonist based in New Haven, CT. They recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music, where they made quite the impression as a young conductor. They served as a musical director and guest conductor of various ensembles, including the Berklee Motion Picture Orchestra, the school’s largest student-run ensemble. Damali attended the 2023 Aspen Conducting Academy and received the Robert J. Harth Award with the invitation to return for the 2024 Festival. They currently work as a conducting fellow with the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras in Fairfield, CT, and The Chelsea Symphony in New York City. Damali’s work centers on the celebration and liberation of their communities through artistic expression, community engagement, musical innovation, and universal accessibility. Outside of music, Damali enjoys dancing, skating, solving jigsaw puzzles, and cooking for their loved ones.