Jorge Mester, Music Director/Conductor

This is Jorge Mester’s eighth 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 Louisville Symphony. For nearly 25 years, he served as music director of the Pasadena 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.