José Luiz Gomez
(c) Matthieu Gauche
José Luis Gomez, 37, has been named Music Director of The Tucson Symphony Orchestra from the 2017/18 season. He will serve as designate for the 2016/17 season. He succeeds present Music Director George Hanson.
The Venezuelan-born, Spanish conductor first captured international attention when he won First Prize at the 2010 International Sir Georg Solti Conductor’s Competition in Frankfurt by a rare unanimous decision from the jury.
He began his musical career as a violinist. By age 11, he was Concertmaster of the Youth Orchestra of Zulia State, part of the El Sistema system. He continued his studies in the US, graduating in music and violin from the Manhattan School of Music and achieved success as an instrumentalist throughout Europe.
His desire to have more creative influence on musical direction led him to study conducting with Lu Jia, Muhai Tang and John Nelson. His triumph at the Sir Georg Solti competition came just six-months into his studies.
