New Role for Gonzalo Farias at Houston Symphony

The Houston Symphony has promoted Gonzalo Farias to the post of associate conductor, following a year-long tenure as assistant conductor. His duties include conducting the Houston Symphony in education, family, community, and summer concerts as well as covering for guest conductors. Performances he’s conducting this season include Fiesta Sinfónia, featuring the world premiere of Arturo Marquez’s Guitar Concerto, and pops, holiday, and other special concerts. Farias previously served as associate conductor of the Kansas City Symphony and the Jacksonville Symphony, assistant conductor of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and conducting fellow at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He is the former music director of the Joliet Symphony Orchestra in Illinois. Born in Santiago, Chile, he began piano studies at age five. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the P.C. University of Chile and continued graduate piano studies at the New England Conservatory. He studied conducting at the University of Illinois and the Peabody Conservatory. Farias participated in the 2022 League of American Orchestras Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.