Conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya Joins Rice University

Harth-Bedoya will conduct all of the school's ensembles, as well as training its conducting students, from the 2025/26 academic year

Peruvian conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya has been appointed as a distinguished resident director of orchestras and professor of conducting at Rice University. He will step into the post in a professor designate capacity during the 2024/25 academic year, and will assume his full responsibilities in Fall 2025.

Harth-Bedoya has previously been chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and music director of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, where he now holds the title of music director laureate. He has also held positions with the Auckland Philharmonia, Eugene Symphony, Lima Philharmonic, and the New York Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall.

He currently serves as the Director of Orchestral Studies at Baylor University. In addition, Harth-Bedoya is the founder of The Conducting Institute, which provides short courses for capable high-school students and above who are interested in learning the fundamentals of conducting.

At Rice, he will oversee the entire orchestral program. This includes selecting repertoire, conducting all ensembles — the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Ensemble, and others — and leading conducting teaching for Rice's selective program.

"When we welcomed Miguel Harth-Bedoya to lead our orchestras in the spring, we instantly saw his collaborative and energizing presence on the podium," said Matthew Loden, Shepherd School dean and chair of the search committee. "His extensive experience and infectious passion for music will inspire our students to reach new heights. As the Shepherd School celebrates its 50th anniversary this upcoming year, we are thrilled to have Miguel at the orchestral helm, guiding our unique programs into the next half-century."

"I’m thrilled and honored to join the Shepherd School as distinguished resident director of orchestras," Harth-Bedoya said. "Throughout my career, I’ve championed the development of the next generation of musical talent. The chance to do that at such a renowned institution is truly exciting. Together, we’ll inspire and challenge each other to excel and create unique and transformative opportunities to prepare musicians for the 21st century."