The Tucson Symphony is delighted to announce that Music Director José Luis Gómez, who began his tenure in September 2017, has signed a three-year contract extension. His current contract runs through the 2026–27 season; this new extension extends his tenure through the 2029–30 season, including the TSO’s centennial season in 2028–29.
Appointed Music Director-Designate in November 2016, José Luis Gómez has led the TSO in bold new artistic and community-focused directions. As the TSO’s first-ever Spanish-speaking Music Director in its 97-year history, he has been driven by a passionate desire to connect with the heritage of Southern Arizona. In his first season, he conducted the orchestra to an audience of 150,000 in the Día de los Muertos parade in downtown Tucson. Since 2021 he has led the annual Mexican Independence Day concert, invited collaborations with indie Tucson-based groups Orkesta Mendoza and Calexico, and initiated an annual series ¡Celebración latina!, showcasing Hispanic and Latin American music.
Gómez’s programs have expanded the impact and reach of the TSO through increasingly diverse repertoire and partnerships with guest artists and cultural organizations in the region. During his tenure, the number of works programmed by composers of color and women has grown to an average of 25 a season. Regular collaborations include the Mexican Consulate of Tucson, Tucson International Mariachi Conference, the University of Arizona Dance School, and Ballet Tucson for its annual Nutcracker production. He has also been a strong proponent of the TSO’s Young Composers Project, conducting student compositions every year. As Music Director, Gómez has appointed 31 new musicians to the 78-person orchestra roster.
I am honored to continue my relationship with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra as their Music Director. Over the past seasons, our work together has seen ever-expanding repertoire including completed symphonic cycles of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Schumann, and ongoing cycles of Mahler and Sibelius. We have championed new music and initiatives through commissions, the creation of ¡Celebración Latina!, our Artist-In-Residence program, Up Close Chamber Series, and strengthened ties with our beloved community. It is a privilege to be at the artistic helm of this vibrant organization for another three seasons, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me as we approach the landmark centennial. I can’t wait to continue the music-making, creativity, and inclusiveness that have made the TSO shine in Southern Arizona for almost 100 years. Thank you, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, for your trust and support. Thank you all!
“From the first time I heard José Luis Gómez conduct the Tucson Symphony, I realized how special this relationship is between our maestro, the TSO musicians and audiences,” said President & CEO Paul Meecham. “José Luis’s dedication to the orchestra and to the community is unwavering. We are thrilled that he will be at the artistic helm to help the TSO celebrate its centennial during the 2028–29 season.”