The Score | Payare to Lead San Diego Symphony

The San Diego Symphony has chosen Rafael Payare as its next music director, succeeding Jahja Ling, who led the orchestra from 2004 to 2017. Payare begins a four-year contract immediately, serving as music director designate for the first year, transitioning to music director in 2019. Payare will conduct the San Diego Symphony for ten weeks each season, including performances in the Bayside Summer Nights series. Born in 1980 and a graduate of Venezuela’s El Sistema music education program, Payare began formal conducting studies in 2004 with José Antonio Abreu. He has served as principal horn of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and as its conductor. In 2012, he won first prize at the Malko Conducting Competition. He has led numerous major orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. Payare is music director of the Northern Ireland’s Ulster Orchestra, a post he will retain through June 2019. Payare is married to American cellist Alisa Weilerstein.