A NEW musical director has been appointed by the Jersey Symphony Orchestra and will lead some of the Island’s best musicians for the next three years.
Natalia Luis-Bassa is a professor of conducting at the Royal College of Music and principal guest conductor of the Oxford University Orchestra. She takes over from Hilary Davan Wetton.
Already acquainted with the JSO, Ms Luis-Bassa previously conducted its summer concert last year and the Christmas concert in 2022.
A “passionate advocate” for music education for young people and widening access to the creative arts, Ms Luis-Bassa has strong associations with multiple prestigious musical organisations, such as the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, among others.
Having begun her musical training in her native Venezuela, Ms Luis-Bassa is also an Elgar Ambassador from the Elgar Society, named after the 19th-century English classical composer known for various famous works such as Land of Hope and Glory and The Dream of Gerontius.
Commenting on her appointment, the JSO’s president, Nick Cabot, said: “Natalia built a close relationship with the JSO from day one, and her strong credentials regarding working with both youth and adults, together with her passionate advocacy for placing orchestral music at the heart of a community, made her an easy choice as our musical director. We are looking forward to working with her both at our usual three yearly concerts but also opening up new directions for working with the musical education of young players in the Island.”
Ms Luis-Bassa will next appear in Jersey at the orchestra’s summer concert in August.
