With many orchestras seeking gender equality in the podium, this is our totally unscientific annual update of maestra progress, judged by the most sought-after to least.

1 Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
Universal 1st choice. She’s not guest conducting, so the demand increases.

2 Marin Alsop
Locked out in Baltimore, starts with new orchestra in Vienna

3 Karina Canellakis
Rising in Holland and Berlin

4 Elim Chan
Antwerp Symphony, now making Philadelphia debut

5 Gemma New
New agent, lands jobs at Dallas and St Louis

6 Simone Young
In strong guest demand by top orchestras

7 Susanna Mälkki
likewise

8 Débora Waldman
First woman music director at a French symphony orchestra

9 Audrey Saint-Gil
Frenchwoman rising on festival circuit

10 Anja Bihlmaier
Takes over Residentie orchestra in The Hague

11 Kristiina Poska
MD in Basle and Flanders

12 Dalia Stasevska
New #2 at BBC Symphony Orchestra

13 Anna Skryleva
Magdeburg music director

14  Speranza Scapucci, Opera Liege

15 Joanna Mallwitz, Nuremberg

16 Nicole Paiement
Huge influence at Dallas Opera
17 Anna Rakitina
New assistant at Boston Symhony Orchestra

18 Anu Tali
Stepping down at Sarasota Orchestra

19 Alondra de la Parra
Grounded in Brisbane, Austrlia

20 Giedrė Šlekytė
Formerly at Klagenfurt, now making debuts in Dresden, Paris, Zurich, Berlin.

Among the dropouts is Joana Carneiro, who’s taking a career break for motherhood.