TUCSON – For decades, concert halls in the United States have welcomed an extraordinary generation of Venezuelan conductors trained in El Sistema. Among them is Maestro José Luis Gómez, music director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra (TSO) since 2016, who continues to forge a path in the symphonic world while leaving a lasting mark on the Southwest.
Since his arrival, Gómez has found Tucson to be a different, almost unexpected, place. Despite having seen much of the world and working as a guest conductor in several U.S. cities, Tucson has offered him what few cities provide: authenticity.
“I have to admit that Tucson is a small oasis amidst the tumult of situations happening not only in the U.S., but in the world in general. Here, there is an inclusion that feels genuine. It is a city that opens its arms beyond race, gender, skin color and even language. This diversity is respected, and my experience has been very positive,” he shared in an interview with CALÓ News…