Houston Symphony Names New Music Director

In 2013-14, the Symphony’s centennial, Orozco-Estrada will conduct four programs (12 concerts) in his official capacity as music director designate. He will continue as music director of the Tonkünstler Orchestra, which performs in Vienna (in the Musikverein) and St. Pölten, in lower Austria. In May, he’ll step down from his position as principal conductor of the Basque National Orchestra in San Sebastián, Spain.  

 

His appointment caps a three-year search by a 12-member committee. In his comments, the chairman, Justice Brett Busby, characterized Orozco-Estrada’s first engagement with the orchestra in October as “off the charts,” in terms of chemistry.

 

“The orchestra asked that we immediately bring him back to further test the compatibility,” said Busby.

 

Apparently he passed muster.

 

The conductor, who will establish a residence in Houston with his family, was born in Medellin, Colombia, and first studied violin before his initial conducting engagement at age 15. Four years later he began at the Vienna Music Academy, from which he holds a degree with distinction. In the intervening years he has conducted a number of European ensembles, including the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic, when he was asked to step in for Esa-Pekka Salonen. He has since been invited back.

 

Orozco-Estrada will be the Houston Symphony’s 16^th music director.