Conference Orchestra Concert
Conference Program (to be linked)
Honor Orchestra Conductor: Sebastián Serrano‑Ayala
Sebastián Serrano‑Ayala is a Colombian-born conductor celebrated for his inclusive leadership, international reach, and innovative programming that bridges cultural heritage with artistic excellence. He has conducted professional and student ensembles across the U.S., Latin America, the Philippines, and the Netherlands, and is dedicated to championing under‑represented repertoire rooted in Latin American traditions
Currently appointed Conductor of Orchestras at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music for the 2025–26 season, Dr. Serrano‑Ayala leads the Pacific Orchestras and brings his commitment to collaborative leadership and programming innovation to Stockton, California.
Previously, he served as Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of New Mexico, where he conducted both the Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia, taught graduate conducting, and reimagined the orchestral curriculum to center student artistry and diverse repertoire
He remains an active guest conductor in the Pacific Northwest, serving as Assistant Conductor with both Skagit Symphony and Saratoga Orchestra, and has held fellowships at prestigious institutions, including Symphony Tacoma, the National Orchestral Institute, Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival, and the Mostly Modern Festival in New York; where he premiered new works with the American Modern Ensemble
Internationally, Dr. Serrano‑Ayala has led ensembles such as the Royal Military Chapel “Johan Willem Friso” at the Dutch festival BLOW and worked with institutions like The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” He was a semi‑finalist in the World Music Contest Conductors Competition and a finalist in the Denver Philharmonic International Conducting Competition. In 2025, he was named finalist for The American Prize in both orchestral performance and conducting.
An advocate for new music, his recent concerts feature works by composers such as Anna Clyne, Grażyna Bacewicz, Victor Agudelo, Sérgio Azevedo, and Adolfo Mejía, alongside traditional masterworks by Mozart, Ravel, Bartók, and Dvořák. He has also premiered several world and U.S. premieres, including pieces by Florence Maunders, Randall Smith, Noah Hertzman, Bradley Kirkendall, and Huijuan Ling.
Dr. Serrano‑Ayala holds a DMA from the University of Cincinnati’s College‑Conservatory of Music, an MM from Andrews University, and degrees in music education from the Adventist University of Colombia and the Philippines. He has studied under and learned from prominent conductors including Marin Alsop, Mei‑Ann Chen, Cristian Măcelaru, JoAnn Falletta, Diane Wittry, and others.