Marvelous Maestro

Tennessee Bears, get your listenin’ ears ready.

The Nashville Symphony introduced proud Baylor alum Giancarlo Guerrero as its new music director Wednesday, ending a two-year search. The 1991 grad had previously served as music director for the Eugene (Oregon) Symphony, where he earned recognition from the American Symphony Orchestra League as one of the top young conductors in the nation.

Last fall, Guerrero received an Outstanding Young Alumni Award from the Baylor Alumni Association. In a 2005 interview, he said that a mandatory conducting class at Baylor got him started, when a teacher saw his innate ability to lead and encouraged him to pursue conducting.

“Baylor’s School of Music prepared me for a great music career; its world-class faculty was always available to share their expertise and provide meaningful advice,” Guerrero has said. “As a percussionist, the school’s ensembles provided me great opportunities to explore all styles of repertoire: orchestral, band, choral, chamber music and of course plenty of solo opportunities; and when I decided to pursue my interest in conducting, the school was very supportive in helping me in this new endeavor. I am very proud of being a Baylor alumni and I will forever be grateful for their invaluable support and teaching.”

Sic ’em, maestro!