Ana María Patiño-Osorio, new director tPrincipal of the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra
A baton with roots Colombians and look global
Medellín, Colombia — The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, Filarmed, announces the appointment of Ana María Patiño-Osorio as its new principal conductor, marking a milestone both in the history of the institution and in the Latin American orchestral scene.
Renowned for her artistic depth, humanistic approach, and international reach, Patiño-Osorio, at 30, assumes the position after several years of collaboration with the orchestra and a rapidly developing career in Europe and Latin America. Her appointment is effective from the 2026 season, with annual commitments that will include weeks of symphonic concerts, artistic programming, community projects, and international representation of the orchestra.
A new era for symphonic music in Colombia
For María Catalina Prieto Vásquez, executive director of Filarmed, this appointment is deeply symbolic:
"Ana María's appointment marks a new era, not only for the orchestra, but also for the way symphonic music has been perceived in Colombia. It is a clear affirmation of our mission: to showcase local talent and believe in what we are capable of producing here."
Patiño-Osorio becomes the first woman to lead the orchestra and one of the few female principal conductors in professional orchestras in Latin America. Her appointment reflects a deep institutional commitment to equity, artistic excellence, and cultural relevance.
Colombian conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada, one of the continent's most renowned conductors, celebrated the news by stating:
“This is a beautiful and historic moment for symphonic music in Medellín and Colombia. Ana María is a fantastic conductor, with great talent, experience, and a deep connection with music and musicians.”
Leadership with local roots and global projection
Born in 1995 in La Unión, a municipality in eastern Antioquia, Colombia, Ana María showed a natural inclination toward musical conducting, beginning her training as a saxophonist in the local symphonic band. Her talent led her to study orchestral conducting at EAFIT University in Medellín under the guidance of Alejandro Posada, and later to complete a master's degree with honors at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (Zurich), under the tutelage of Johannes Schlaefli.
She was selected as a 2025/2026 Gustavo Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and served as Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande from 2022 to 2024, chosen from a field of nearly 300 applicants.
In 2024, she was awarded Second Prize, the Audience Award, and the Youth Jury Prize at the Malko Competition for Young Female Conductors in Copenhagen, one of the most important in the world. She also received the National Award for Best Conductor from the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra in 2021.
Ana was also part of Bernard Haitink's masterclass at the Lucerne Festival (Switzerland), a finalist in the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition, and a winner of the Dirigentenforum Conducting Scholarship from the German Music Council.
His upcoming debuts include engagements with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Croatian Radio Television Orchestra, RAI Orchestra Turin, National Orchestra of Spain, Galicia Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Common stakes: shared visions
Ana María takes on this new role in line with Filarmed's artistic identity:
“I am deeply excited to take on the leadership role of an orchestra I know very well, which is a great cultural ambassador for the city, and with which I share deeply felt artistic and human values. Medellín is a city with immense creative potential, and the Philharmonic is a living reflection of that. We will continue to build from the local level to the world, making music with meaning, honesty, and emotion.”
The executive director adds:
“Ana María understands that we want an innovative orchestra that works with other arts, that showcases Latin American talent, and that gives equal importance to its social impact and its artistic excellence.”
International projection and future
The appointment comes at a key moment for the orchestra's expansion. In the coming years, Filarmed expects to:
- Strengthen its ties with world-class soloists and conductors.
- Carry out a second international tour, built in collaboration with the Patiño-Osorio artistic team.
- Continue developing its artistic plan, which positions the orchestra as a benchmark for innovation and social commitment in Latin America.
Filarmed: an orchestra that thinks with its ears in the city
For more than a decade, Filarmed has championed an orchestral model that combines artistic excellence with civic engagement. It has brought symphonic music to hospitals, neighborhoods, rural communities, and unconventional spaces, convinced that culture is also a political act, a gesture of equality.
With a program that combines classical and contemporary, local and global, the orchestra has received awards such as the Latin Grammy (2021), the Classical:NEXT Innovation Award (2022) and the Kennedy Center's LEAD® Award (2024) for its inclusive practices in the arts.
Ana María's arrival is consistent with this identity. It's not just about having a young woman on the podium: it's about having an artist who connects with the pulse of Medellín, who connects symphonic tradition with the sounds and challenges of Latin America. Additionally, the orchestra has selected a principal guest conductor who will be announced in the coming months.
Press contact and photos:
Juan Manuel Chavarría – juan.chavarria@filarmed.org / communications@filarmed.org
Filarmed in digital:
www.filarmed.org – @Filarmed (Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn)
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