Award-winning Mexican conductor Felipe Tristán is celebrated for his dynamic artistry, cultural vision, and global reach. Merging orchestral mastery with Latin American soul, Tristán delivers performances that captivate and inspire worldwide. Hailed as “the most important Monterrey conductor of his generation” (El Norte/Reforma), he currently serves as Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of Teatro Grattacielo, and Principal Conductor of Ballet de Monterrey. His work has taken him to major podiums across Europe, Asia, North America, and Latin America, with performances noted for their “precise and focused” musicianship (Südkurier).
A passionate advocate for education and inclusion in the arts, Tristán is the founding Music Director of the Monterrey Summer Opera Academy, a program attracting talented voice students from around the world, co-founded with legendary American mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick. In the summers, he is Principal Conductor of the Texas New Music Festival, where he has premiered over 30 works by living composers. His artistic influence extends beyond the concert hall as Creative & Artistic Consultant to the GRAMMY® Award-winning Belongó Afro Latin Jazz.
Tristán’s profile includes frequent appearances at the Met Gala – featured in the Disney+ documentary In Vogue: The 90s, and collaborations with institutions such as Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, NY Philharmonic Bandwagon, and HBO’s Fandango at the Wall. He has been featured in Forbes magazine’s “Working Journal” by photographer Michael Fiedler.
His conducting honors include: 1st Prize, Klangkraft Dirigierwettbewerb; 1st Prize, International Conductors Workshop & Competition; and an Excellence Award from the Mexican Music Awards (2017).
Highlights of recent seasons include performances with the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, New Amsterdam Symphony, Zhengzhou Symphony, and orchestras across Mexico. Operatic credits range from Falstaff and Il trovatore to La bohème, Carmen, and Don Giovanni, alongside ballet productions of Romeo & Juliet and the world premiere of Maximiliano & Carlota.
His discography includes collaborations with flutist Krzysztof Kaczka and members of the MET Orchestra (Hänssler Classics) and the acclaimed album Flute Concertos by Reinecke & Penderecki with the Janáček Philharmonic, recipient of Poland’s highest recording honor, the Muzyczne Orły 2024 for Best Recording.
Felipe Tristán graduated cum laude from the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana in Switzerland, and pursued graduate studies at the University of Houston, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey. He has completed advanced conducting courses at the Juilliard School Extension and holds an executive certificate in Leadership Principles from Harvard Business School Online. This diverse academic foundation, bridging conservatory rigor and leadership training, informs the dynamic blend of artistry and strategic vision that defines his work on the podium. He currently resides in New York City.