BIOGRAPHY
A natural communicator with infectious charisma, Berlin-based Venezuelan conductor, Rodolfo Barráez, brings remarkable vivacity, sensitivity, and zeal to his artistry. The 2025-26 season sees him continue his tenure with both the Singapore Symphony and the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela as Associate Conductor.
Awarded first prize at the 2023 Hong Kong International Conducting Competition, previous competition successes include first prize at the 2018 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México International Conducting Competition (OFUNAM), and second prize at the 2020 Siemens-Hallé International Conductor Competition in Manchester.
Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic starting in the 2023-2024 season, Rodolfo Barraez has collaborated extensively with the Orchestra, conducting them at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl in performances of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Joshua Bell’s The Elements Project. Rodolfo has also recently conducted the Münchener Kammerorchester on their tour of South America, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela on their tour of China, and the Appasionato Orchestra at the Verbier Festival.
Making his European debut at the Philharmonie Berlin in 2019 with the Hauptstadt Sinfonie-Orchester, other recent highlights include debuts with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Hallé Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Gävle Symfoniorkester, Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias, Orquesta Sinfónica y Coro Radio Televisión Española, Bogotá Philharmonic, Yucatán Philharmonic, Querétaro Symphony Orchestra, UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra, and Minería Symphony Orchestra.
In 2024, Rodolfo conducted the Singapore Symphony for their live recording of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto, released on Pentatone, which reached #1 on the Apple Music (Worldwide) Classical Music chart, #4 on the UK Official Specialist Classical Music chart and #6 on the US Billboard Traditional Classical Music chart.
Having completed a Bachelor degree in conducting at the Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes de Venezuela, Barráez also studied a Bachelor and Master degree in conducting at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. Strongly influenced by his own remarkable education as part of El Sistema under the guidance of José Antonio Abreu and Teresa Hernández, Rodolfo is committed to contributing to music education. In 2019, Rodolfo founded the Falcón Conducting Workshop; an organisation which nurtures and supports the development of emerging conductors through masterclass and workshop series in his hometown as well as worldwide at high renowned institutions such as the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. In addition, as part of El Sistema Greece and supported by the Hilti Foundation, Rodolfo provided performance training to young musicians from deprived communities in Greece, furthering his passion for bringing young people together through music performance and education.
Rodolfo formed the intrinsic roots of his conducting career as an eminent violinist. Previously a member of the Teresa Carreño Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo has performed under Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, and Gustavo Dudamel at venues such as Teatro Alla Scala Milan, London’s Royal Festival Hall, Salzburg Festival, and Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space.
This biography is not to be edited without permission from Askonas Holt.
GUEST CONDUCTING
