North Carolina Symphony Names New Music Director

As a regular guest conductor with the North Carolina Symphony (NCS), Prieto has been a familiar face among North Carolina audiences since 2011. He takes over the podium from Grant Lewellyn, who prior to Prieto, was NCS's Music Director of 16 years.

Prieto will serve an initial four-year term as Music Director beginning in the 2023-2024 season. In the meantime, he will serve as Music Director Designate during the 2022-2023 season and is set to conduct the NCS in the opening concert of the 2022-2023 season at Meymandi Concert Hall, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.

Since 2006, Prieto has served as Music Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2007, has also been appointed as Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México. In 2008, he was given the same position with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería, and in 2021 was appointed as Artistic Advisor for the NCS.

“With a combination of great joy, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility, I am formalizing my partnership with the North Carolina Symphony today. I am excited to grow a relationship with its sensational musicians, staff and board, which started in 2011, when I was first invited as a guest conductor," said Prieto in his official statement published by NCS.

"Our recent concerts together solidified my belief that this is a world class organization – and proved to be the inspiration I so desperately needed given the difficult pandemic times. The NCS plays a central role in the life of its community, in a way I have rarely seen before. I am honored to join this community and will help, in any way I can, bring the message of hope, joy and unity that music provides, at this critical time in our lives."

In the press release of the NCS, Don Davis, Chair of the NCS Board of Trustees commented about Preto's new appointment: "This is the beginning of a new era for the North Carolina Symphony. I am honored to announce Carlos Miguel Prieto as the symphony’s next Music Director. In partnership with the incredible musicians of the symphony we have named an artistic leader, who with our CEO, Sandi Macdonald, sets the stage for what will undoubtedly be a bright musical future for our great North Carolina Symphony.”

“Quite simply, Carlos Miguel Prieto is exactly the right artistic leader for the NCS today and into the future. Carlos has been part of our family for more than a decade already, and the affinity between him and the musicians has been striking," said Sandi Macdonald, President & CEO of the NCS. "With his appointment as Music Director, we have ensured the opportunity for this most promising partnership to continue to grow. Carlos shares the orchestra’s commitment to creating extraordinary musical experiences and connecting with the people of our state.”