Carlos Izcaray

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Carlos Eduardo Izcaray Pinto (born 1977 in Caracas, Venezuela) is the Elton B. Stephens Music Director of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. He accepted a four-year contract in January 2015 and began his official tenure in August of that year.

Izcaray was born into a family with many generations of professional musicians. His father, Felipe Izcaray, is a renowned conductor. He was enrolled in Venezuela's youth orchestral program at age 3 and the Emil Friedman Conservatory at age 7. He spend his high school years in Wisconsin. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan; the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida; and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he was awarded the Kuttner Prize.

As a cellist, Izcaray has performed with numerous string quartets and chamber ensembles, as well as holding the position of principal cello and artistic president for the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra. He was a distinguished fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, Colorado and has conducted symphonic orchestras and opera ensembles around the world. He spent three years as principal conductor of the Mozarteum-Caracas Chamber Orchestra and won top prizes at the Aspen Music Festival and Toscanini International Conducting Competition in 2007 and 2008.

In 2004 Izcaray was taken into custody by members of Venezuela's national guard after a night of violent anti-government demonstrations in Caracas. He told Human Rights Watch that he had only was not a participant, but he was arrested while walking home and taken to a remote location with a group of detainees where they were beaten and abused for several days before he was released.

Preceded by:
Justin Brown
music director, Alabama Symphony Orchestra
2015 - present
Succeeded by:
current

References

  • "Letter to President Hugo Chavez" (April 12, 2004) Human Rights Watch
  • Colurso, Mary (January 15, 2015) "Alabama Symphony Orchestra chooses Carlos Izcaray to succeed Justin Brown as music director." The Birmingham News
  • Perry, Lauren (December 11, 2023) "Carlos Izcaray’s fascinating story—from violin player at age three to Music Director at ASO." Bham Now (sponsored)

External links