Biography
An advocate for the music of our time, Colombian-born conductor Sebastian Serrano-Ayala blends inclusive collaboration, and effortless conducting technique with fresh and timely musical interpretations. Currently serving as Assistant Conductor with the Saratoga Orchestra, he is a former Conducting Fellow at the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and Mostly Modern Festival where he premiered works with the American Modern Ensemble.
Biography
An advocate for the music of our time, Colombian-born conductor Sebastian Serrano-Ayala blends inclusive collaboration, and effortless conducting technique with fresh and timely musical interpretations. Sebastian is actively involved with symphonic music and educational programs in the United States and has been named Assistant Conductor with the Skagit Symphony for the 23/24 season. He also serves as Assistant Conductor with the Saratoga Orchestra and has held Conducting Fellowships at the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and the Mostly Modern Festival in NY, where he premiered works with the American Modern Ensemble.
Other recent engagements have included the SJMEA Honor Orchestra, the Whatcom Wind Ensemble, and acting as cover conductor for Yakima Symphony.
Past performance highlights include a premiere and recording session with Symphony Tacoma, leading the Royal Military Chapel "Johan Willem Friso'' during the Dutch International Festival ‘BLOW’, and conducting The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC.
Sebastian was recently acknowledged for his leadership when he was a semi-finalist at the prestigious World Music Contest (WMC) - Conductor’s Competition. There, he was given the opportunity to work with the Marinierskapel der Koninklijke Marine, the premier ensemble of the Netherlands military, and Blazerensemble Helicon, as well as the renowned Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Air Force. He was also a finalist at the 2021 International Conducting Competition hosted by Denver Philharmonic.
Through his research and programming, Sebastian advocates for the importance of contemporary music influenced by Latin America and his native Colombia. In Summer ‘22, he presented on these topics at a world conference of symphonic music in Prague, Czeck Republic.
Serrano-Ayala holds a DMA in Wind - Orchestral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), and a MM in Conducting from Andrews University, both he was awarded full scholarship and teaching assistantships. He also holds degrees in music education from the Adventist University of Colombia (UNAC) and the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP).
Additionally, Sebastian has taken part in masterclasses with conductors JoAnn Falletta, Diane Wittry, Sarah Ioannides, Ankush Kumar Bahl, Aram Demirjian, Mark Heron, Jan Cober, Mallory Thompson, Michael Haithcock, and John E. Williamson. Mentors include Anna Edwards, Terence Milligan, Kevin Holzman, Aik Khai Pung, Alan Mitchell, and Hugo Riaño.