Paolo Bortolameolli (photo by Jesús Cornejo)
The Phoenix Symphony on March 10 announced the appointment of internationally acclaimed conductor Paolo Bortolameolli as the symphony’s next Virginia G. Piper Music Director. Bortolameolli will become the 12th music director in the orchestra’s nearly 80-year history.
The appointment was unanimously approved by the symphony’s board of directors following a three-year international search conducted in close partnership with the orchestra’s musicians. Bortolameolli will serve as music director designate during the 2026-27 season and become the Virginia G. Piper Music Director beginning with the 2027-28 season.
During his designate season, he will lead five programs and open the Symphony’s 2026-27 season, offering audiences an early glimpse into the artistic vision that will shape the orchestra’s next era.
“Conducting an orchestra is a collaborative pursuit of beauty. It is a profound honor to be appointed the next Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony,” Bortolameolli said. “From my first experiences with the orchestra, I felt a remarkable sense of openness, energy, collaboration, and artistic commitment among the musicians and throughout the organization. I look forward to building a meaningful and lasting relationship with the orchestra and the Arizona community” he said, “and to crafting performances that honor the great traditions of our art form while boldly exploring new voices and new possibilities.”
The symphony said that selecting a music director is among the most consequential decisions in the life of an orchestra, shaping artistic direction, institutional culture, and the symphony’s relationship with its community for years to come, adding, “At the conclusion of the search grounded in artistic excellence, the choice of Bortolameolli signals both continuity of excellence and a bold vision for the future.”
To learn more, visit www.phoenixsymphony.org.
