Giancarlo Guerrero hopes to expand the audience of the Nashville Symphony. After a two year search, Guerrero will be the Symphony’s next Music Director.
Guerrero follows the late Kenneth Schermerhorn, who served as Music Director for 22 years. In fact, it was only a week after Schermerhorn’s passing in April of 2005 that Guerrero first served as a guest conductor with the orchestra.
He has returned several times since then, wowing audiences with his dynamic style. Guerrero admits to being a passionate conductor.
“I have my Bernstein-esq moments of almost jumping off the podium, in the same way that I might have my Guilini moments where you become a little bit more relaxed.”
The Nicaraguan-born conductor credits Schermerhorn for setting the standard in Nashville for orchestral performance, and says that now he hopes to broaden the audience of the Symphony.
“I truly feel that we need to open the doors even wider to make the Schermerhorn center available to everyone in the community and feel that the symphony has something for each and every one of them.”
Guerrero will begin next year as Music Director Designate by conducting 10 weeks of concerts. He will formally take his place in 2009, and will continue through the 2013 season.
Guerrero will open this year’s classical season conducting the Symphony next weekend.
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