This is Jorge Mester’s sixth season as music director of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. One of the world’s most dynamic conductors, Maestro Mester has an eclectic and distinguished background that includes conducting, recording and teaching. He is conductor laureate of the prestigious Aspen Music Festival, which he led for 21 years, and also serves as music director of the Pasadena Symphony, a post he has held since 1984, and the Louisville Symphony. From 1998 to 2002, Maestro Mester was artistic director of Mexico City’s leading orchestra, Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de Mexico.

The Los Angeles Times recently called Mester a conductor of “passionate vision” and proclaimed “Mester is a master.”

Mester, who is of Hungarian descent, was born and raised in Mexico City. An accomplished violist, he performed with the Beaux-Arts Quartet for several years before focusing exclusively on conducting.

During his 12-year tenure as music director of the Louisville Orchestra from 1967 to 1979, Maestro Mester made 72 recordings with the orchestra.

Mester’s passion for conducting extends from the stage to the classroom. He directed the Juilliard School’s prestigious conducting department for a number of years and has taught such conductors as James Conlon, Dennis Russell Davies, Andreas Delfs, JoAnn Falletta and John Nelson. He also helped introduce to the public such artists as Midori, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Renée Fleming, Cho-Liang Lin and Robert McDuffie.

A noted opera conductor as well, Mester has led numerous productions with the New York City Opera, the Sydney Opera, Spoleto and the Washington Opera. He has also guest-conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Cincinnati Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony and many others.

Maestro Mester leads four Classical concert programs with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2010-11 season, along with the Mendelssohn & Mozart and Romeo and Juliet and More performances, and the Opening Night Gala.

Jack Everly, principal pops conductor

The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra is pleased to announce the appointment of Jack Everly as our new principal pops conductor!

 
Maestro Everly is familiar to Phil audiences for his innovative Pops Series and New Year’s Eve concerts. Everly is also principal pops conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Ottawa, Canada. For 15 years, he served as music director of the American Ballet Theatre. A multi-faceted conductor, Maestro Everly guest-conducts on some of the world’s leading concert, opera and ballet stages.