Houston Symphony Hires New Associate Conductor

The Chilean conductor Gonzalo Farias will assume the role as of September 2024

In recognition of his exceptional work with the orchestra, the Houston Symphony has named conductor and pianist Gonzalo Farias as its next Associate Conductor beginning this month. 

In the new role, Farias will conduct the orchestra in various programs including Education, Family, Community, and Summer concerts, and covering for guest conductors. 

Farias previously served as Associate Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony, Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Joliet Symphony Orchestra, and Conducting Fellow at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. 

He is a graduate of the P.C. University of Chile and of the New England Conservatory, where he was a full-scholarship piano student of Wha-Kyung Byun and Russell Sherman. 

For conducting, he attended the University of Illinois and the Peabody Conservatory. His mentors included Marin Alsop, Donald Schleicher, Larry Rachleff, and Otto-Werner Mueller. 

Additionally, he has worked with Jaap Van Zweden and Johannes Schlaefli at Switzerland’s Gstaad Menuhin Festival, and with Neeme and Paavo Järvi at the Pärnu Music Festival. 

Farias is a two-time recipient of the Cabrillo Music Festival’s Bruno Walter Memorial Conducting Scholarship, and was named “Emergent Conductor” at the Peninsula Music Festival. His other awards include the Bernard Osher Scholar Prize and first prize at the Claudio Arrau International Piano Competition. 

Recently, he was selected to conduct at the esteemed Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview showcase for conductors in America, and was appointed by the National Endowment for the Arts as a reviewing member for the Grant for Art Projects.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to continue working and deepening my relationship with my Houston Symphony family,” said Farias in the press release. “Making music at the highest level with such outstanding musicians and administration is a dream come true. I’m so happy to be part of this world-class orchestra and expand our place as a cultural leader in Houston.”

Under its Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the GRAMMY Award-winning Houston Symphony presents over 130 concerts annually, and offers nearly 600 community-based performances each year at schools, community centers, hospitals, senior centers, and churches. The orchestra has also released several acclaimed records on the Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, Telarc, Virgin Classics, and Pentatone labels.