Greater Bridgeport Symphony Names New Music Director

The Brazilian conductor and percussionist Eduardo Leandro will step into the role

Following an extensive search that went on for two seasons, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony (GBS) has appointed Brazilian conductor Eduardo Leandro as its new Music Director and Principal Conductor. Leandro was selected from a field of 180 applicants, with 7 proceeding to the final round.

Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Leandro trained as both a percussionist and a conductor at Sao Paulo State University, the Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands, and Yale University. His primary conducting mentor and teacher was Gustav Meier.

A particular specialist in the field of contemporary music, Leandro led the New York New Music Ensemble, a group with over 40 years of history commissioning and premiering music from over one hundred composers.

He also regularly appears with the New York University Symphony Orchestra and has conducted Camerata Aberta in Brazil, Talea and Sequitur Ensembles in the United States, Ensemble Lemanic in France, and the New Music Ensembles in the conservatories of Geneva and Lausanne.

An Associate Professor at Stony Brook University and artistic director of its Contemporary Chamber Players, Leandro also conducts the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, gives doctoral seminars on contemporary music, and teaches percussion at both the master and doctoral levels.

Leandro will make his first appearance as Music Director of GBS in the concert Something Big!, set to take place on Saturday, May 10 at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport.

"I wish our audience could have seen Eduardo in Bridgeport’s elementary schools last year," said GBS President Mark Halstead. "He speaks five languages and was uniquely able to make a real connection with the students."

"I am looking forward to celebrating life through art here in Bridgeport, and to sharing our beautiful music straight from our souls to you, our listeners and supporters," Leandro said. "I understand how much music can unite and transform a community. I’ve seen that happen many times all over the world, from South Korea to Switzerland to Springfield MA.  A symphony orchestra should mirror its community, and I want to see the Greater Bridgeport Symphony doing just that."