Conductor and violinist Alejandro Gómez Guillén is passionate about sharing music in a way that is compelling, uplifting, and educational. Currently serving as Omaha Symphony’s assistant conductor and music director of Sphere Ensemble, he recently completed a seven season tenure as artistic director and conductor of Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. Former associate conductor of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, he also served as a Freeman Fellow in Conducting with Chicago Sinfonietta, associate conductor of Boulder Symphony, music director of Cantabile, acting concertmaster/principal second violin of West Texas Symphony, and violinist of the Permian Basin.
In addition to his full schedule with Omaha Symphony, including as an artistic leader of its robust education programs, recent activities include serving as cover conductor for the symphonies of Indianapolis, Fort Worth, Dallas, and appearances with Tulsa’s Signature Symphony, Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, West Texas Symphony, SingFest Hong Kong, Bogotá’s Javeriana University, Bloomington Bach Cantata Project, Midland Festival Ballet, the Oregon Bach Festival, Bloomington Early Music Festival, Tonos del Sur, Weimarer Bachkantaten Akademie, Junges Stuttgarter Bach Ensemble, ¡Canta, Bogotá Canta!, Santander Choral Festival, Cabrillo Festival, Tonos del Sur at Berkeley Festival, and Permian Basin Opera.
Committed to working with young artists, Alejandro has served as assistant professor of music at Colorado Mesa University, music director of the Colorado Youth Philharmonia, and has led performances with Off Broadway School of Fine Arts in Boulder, Javeriana University Symphony Orchestra, Spokane Youth Symphony, University of Colorado Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and Falcon Music Camps at the University of Texas Permian Basin.
Alejandro had a rich musical upbringing as a chorister and violinist in his native Colombia. He pursued a BM in violin performance from Texas Christian University and MM degrees in conducting and violin performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He holds a DMA in orchestral conducting from the same institution, and his doctoral research includes a critical edition of Colombian composer Jorge Pinzón’s violin concerto, and a guide using selected dances from Bach’s orchestral suites in their original form for developing orchestras through a historically informed approach to playing on modern instruments. His mentors include Gary Lewis, Helmuth Rilling, Matthew Halls, and Mei-Ann Chen.
When not playing, leading ensembles, or reveling in the music of Bach, Alejandro enjoys singing, trail running, and making music with his wife, violinist Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Cranor.