Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

Mexico

Birth

:

April 10, 1935 in Mexico City, Mexico

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Jorge Mester is a renowned classical music conductor who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. Born on January 3, 1935, in Mexico City, Mester grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a violinist, and his mother was a pianist. Mester began playing the violin at the age of six and showed a natural talent for music. Mester's family moved to the United States when he was a teenager, and he continued his music education at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He studied violin with Efrem Zimbalist and conducting with Max Rudolf. After graduating from Curtis, Mester joined the Houston Symphony Orchestra as a violinist. Mester's conducting career began in 1962 when he was appointed assistant conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. He quickly gained recognition for his talent and was appointed associate conductor in 1967. In 1969, Mester was appointed music director of the Louisville Orchestra, a position he held for 20 years. During his tenure with the Louisville Orchestra, Mester gained a reputation for his innovative programming and his commitment to contemporary music. He commissioned and premiered numerous works by American composers, including William Bolcom, Joan Tower, and John Corigliano. Mester also led the Louisville Orchestra on several international tours, including a tour of the Soviet Union in 1976. In addition to his work with the Louisville Orchestra, Mester has conducted many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Vienna State Opera. Mester has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In 1977, he was awarded the Ditson Conductor's Award, which is given annually to a conductor who has made a significant contribution to American music. In 1985, he was awarded the Governor's Arts Award by the state of Kentucky. In 1990, he was awarded the Leonard Bernstein Award for Excellence in Educational Programming. Mester has also been recognized for his recordings. He has recorded for many of the world's leading record labels, including RCA, Philips, and Naxos. His recording of William Bolcom's Symphony No. 1 with the Louisville Orchestra won a Grammy Award in 2002. Mester retired from the Louisville Orchestra in 1989 but has continued to conduct and teach. He has been a guest conductor with many orchestras around the world and has taught conducting at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the University of Miami, and the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to his work as a conductor, Mester is also a composer. He has written several works for orchestra, including a violin concerto and a symphony. His music has been performed by many orchestras, including the Louisville Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mester's contributions to the world of classical music have been significant. He has championed contemporary music and has introduced audiences to many new works by American composers. His recordings and performances have been praised for their musicality and technical excellence. Mester's legacy as a conductor and composer will continue to inspire future generations of musicians.

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