Described as ‘magnetic on the podium’ with a ‘remarkable ability to inspire orchestras to achieve their fullest potential,’ Simón Zerpa-Carballo has established himself as a conductor of exceptional artistry and vision, who focuses on making symphonic music accessible to the widest possible audience.

As Music Director of the Belcanto Italia Festival —an emerging international platform dedicated to opera training and production— Zerpa-Carballo leads innovative operatic projects while continuing to appear regularly as guest conductor with orchestras across Europe and the Americas. Alongside his operatic and symphonic engagements, he is widely recognized for his advocacy of Latin American music, championing its composers through frequent European and world premieres that expand the global presence of this vibrant repertoire.

Recent highlights include his conducting debut in Vienna with Sinfonia Academica, and appearances with the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic, I Musici di Parma in Italy, and the Mérida Regional Youth Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela. Other notable appearances include the Braunschweig State Orchestra, the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra, the Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt, and the Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra, all in Germany.

The Venezuelan maestro has consistently demonstrated strong organizational and leadership skills in managing festivals, recording projects, and educational initiatives. From producing and conducting a tribute to Aldemaro Romero in the United States —where he oversaw every detail from repertoire and artist selection to musical arrangements, logistics and presentation— to executing the complete Symphonic Roots album project (from fundraising through recording), Zerpa-Carballo’s talents extend far beyond the podium. In response to the 2020 pandemic and its impact on the arts, he co-created a series of global Zoom masterclasses for young conductors, engaging hundreds of participants from over 20 countries, and showcasing his remarkable capacity to build international artistic communities even under challenging circumstances. Colleagues and mentors alike praise his passion, energy, and meticulous approach to leadership. His work is characterized by a rare combination of artistic sensitivity and logistical mastery —qualities that have earned him the respect of renowned figures such as maestro Benjamin Zander and composer Reinaldo Moya.

Simón Zerpa-Carballo is an accomplished music educator with extensive experience in Venezuela, Italy and the United States. Many of his former students who went on to pursue professional music careers credit him as their inspiration. He continues to provide mentorship to several of them, reflecting his belief that music education extends far beyond technical instruction —it is about nurturing each individual’s unique musical potential.

His repertoire extends from the Baroque era through the Romantic period to contemporary works, with a special focus on Beethoven, Verdi, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. His background in baroque music includes several years as first violin with the Virtuosi de Caracas Baroque Ensemble, and recording Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as principal second violin with the Mozarteum Caracas String Ensemble. His recent interpretations of Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Verdi’s La Forza del destino, and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture have been especially well-received.

Zerpa-Carballo’s conducting style is sober yet charismatic, and energetic when the music demands it. He is known for drawing a “rounded and beautiful” sound from the ensembles he leads, and is described as passionate, expressive, and deeply attuned to the musicians around him. This sensitivity is especially evident in his work with opera singers, who feel genuinely supported when performing under his baton.

He values authentic connection with audiences, often speaking directly with concertgoers before a performance begins. After the concert, he enjoys meeting those who wish to share their impressions, welcoming the diverse responses that music can evoke. To him, music is both an act of expression for the performer and a refuge for the listener —an experience each person can claim as uniquely their own.

Away from the podium, Zerpa-Carballo remains deeply connected to the folk traditions that first introduced him to music. His passion for Venezuelan folk music —that later expanded to Spanish Flamenco— has shaped his belief that music isn’t confined to concert halls but something to be experienced every day. He also draws inspiration from dance, poetry, and theater, finding that these art forms continuously feed his creativity and deepen his understanding as a conductor.

His musical education began in Venezuela’s El Sistema and continued at the Universidad Experimental de las Artes in Caracas, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance. For more than 20 years, he developed a solid career as an orchestral and chamber violinist, performing with ensembles such as the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra and the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra. He holds a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Shenandoah University and a Postgraduate Diploma from the Berlin University of the Arts. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa.