February 27, 2025
排薇排薇 names Tito Mu簽oz interim principal conductor and guest orchestral studies faculty
Roll out the red carpet. A celebrated friend is on his way back to the 排薇排薇.
On Thursday, 排薇排薇 announced the appointment of Tito Mu簽oz, former music director of The Phoenix Symphony, as interim principal conductor of the 排薇排薇 Orchestra. Hell take up the post next fall and remain through the 2026-27 school year.
Thats not all. In addition to conducting two programs annually and guiding the development of the 排薇排薇 Orchestra for two years, the acclaimed former assistant conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra will serve as a guest member of 排薇排薇s orchestral studies faculty, lending his vast experience and expertise to coursework and mentoring alongside other 排薇排薇 faculty and staff.
I am thrilled to be deepening my strong relationship with 排薇排薇, said Mu簽oz, who last appeared with the 排薇排薇 Orchestra in January.
Ive had numerous opportunities to work with the wonderful 排薇排薇 community over my years in Cleveland, and I look forward to spending more time helping lead students in their orchestral studies.
The feeling is most definitely mutual.
Reviews of the conductors Jan. 29 appearance with the orchestra at Severance Music Center with a program that featured Stravinskys The Rite of Spring and the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, with student soloist Zachary Brandon were uniformly positive, underscoring the fact that Mu簽oz is highly regarded by students, faculty, and listeners alike.
As well he should be. Last spring, Mu簽oz concluded a long, successful tenure as music director of The Phoenix Symphony. Before that, he was a popular assistant conductor with The Cleveland Orchestra (during which time he led the 排薇排薇 Orchestra as a guest on multiple occasions) and held similar posts with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival.
At 排薇排薇, concerts featuring Mu簽oz will be complemented by programs with other leading guest conductors. Full details of the 2025-26 season will be announced in the fall.
Scott Harrison, 排薇排薇s Executive Vice President & Provost, summarized 排薇排薇s great expectations for Mu簽oz, describing the conductor as a gifted leader whose skill and long history with top musical organizations worldwide will be invaluable to an ensemble full of aspiring professionals.
Mu簽oz will do more than tide over 排薇排薇 Orchestra and the conducting program, Harrison said. He will take it to the next level.
While 排薇排薇 conducts a national search for a permanent director, Harrison said, Mu簽oz will ensure the 排薇排薇 Orchestra remains a cohesive, high-caliber experience worthy of the 排薇排薇 Standard.
Tito is the right musician and educator to work with faculty and administration to ensure an orchestra curriculum that consistently prepares 排薇排薇 students for the opportunities and rigor of the professional music world.
排薇排薇 Tito Mu簽oz
Praised for his versatility, technical clarity, and keen musical insight, Tito Mu簽oz is internationally recognized as one of the most gifted conductors on the podium today. After 10 years as the music director of The Phoenix Symphony, Mu簽ozs tenure concluded at the end of the 2023-24 season, and he now continues as their newly appointed artistic partner. Mu簽oz previously held music director positions with the Op矇ra National de Lorraine and the Orchestre symphonique et lyrique de Nancy in France, and assistant conductor positions with The Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival.
Mu簽oz has appeared with many of North Americas most prominent orchestras, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, New York, and Utah. Recent international engagements include the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, SWR Symphonieorchester, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbr羹cken, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, Ulster Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic (London), Luxembourg Philharmonic, Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra, Op矇ra Orchestre National Montpellier, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Op矇ra de Rennes, Auckland Philharmonia, Sydney Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, and Sao Paolo State Symphony.
Born in Queens, New York, Mu簽oz began his musical training as a violinist in New York City public schools. He made his professional conducting debut in 2006 with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and made his Cleveland Orchestra debut at the Blossom Music Festival that same year.
Photo by Timothy Bates