March 11, 2026
The Chilean conductor Paolo Bortolameolli will step into the role from the 2027/28 season.
The Phoenix Symphony announced that Paolo Bortolameolli has been appointed as its new Music Director, following a three-year international search. The search was conducted in close collaboration with the orchestra’s players, and the Board unanimously approved the appointment.
Bortolameolli will serve as Music Director Designate during the 2026/27 season, and his appointment will become permanent from the 2027/28 season.
Hailing originally from Chile, Bortolameolli studied orchestral conducting at the Yale School of Music, the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and the Universidad de Chile; his teachers have included Gustav Meier and Markand Thakar.
Presently, he is Music Director of the Ópera Nacional de Chile and the Filarmónica de Santiago, as well as Artistic Partner to Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín.
His recent and upcoming guest conducting appearances have been with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León (OSCyL), Bamberger Symphoniker, Warsaw Philharmonic, Brussels Philharmonic, Dresdner Philharmoniker, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Omaha Symphony, and Rochester Philharmonic.
“Conducting an orchestra is a collaborative pursuit of beauty,” Bortolameolli. “It is a profound honor to be appointed the next Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony.”
“From my first experiences with the orchestra, I felt a remarkable sense of openness, energy, collaboration, and artistic commitment among the musicians and throughout the organization. I look forward to building a meaningful and lasting relationship with the orchestra and the Arizona community, and to crafting performances that honor the great traditions of our art form while boldly exploring new voices and new possibilities.”
“Paolo Bortolameolli is a conductor of remarkable musical insight and artistic leadership,” said Peter Kjome, President and CEO of The Phoenix Symphony. “From his earliest appearances with our orchestra, he established an immediate and inspiring connection with our musicians and audiences.”
“Throughout the search process it became increasingly clear that his artistic vision, collaborative spirit, and commitment to the orchestra’s role in the cultural life of our community make him the ideal artistic leader for The Phoenix Symphony at this moment in our history. We look forward to the partnership ahead and to the energy he will bring to the Symphony and our community.”
