José Luis Domínguez, Music Director 

José Luis Domínguez is in his 4th season as Music Director of the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra. A prominent talent on international orchestral and operatic stages, his conducting has been described as “unrivaled, magnificent and with exemplary gesturing” (El Mercurio), and he frequents prominent stages across the globe. He serves as Associate Professor of Orchestral Studies/ Director of Orchestras at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, where he is Music Director of the Temple University Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Conducting. He was a regular guest conductor with the Opéra Saint-Étienne and is artistic director of the Musical Encounters International Music Festival in La Serena, Chile.

Maestro Domínguez was Artistic Director of the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestras from 2017-2023, where he served as a frequent guest conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and was an Advisor to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Youth Orchestras for the 2023-2024 season. He was Resident Director of the Santiago Philharmonic Orchestra, Chile (Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago, Chile), at the Municipal de Santiago-Ópera Nacional de Chile from 2003-2016 and was Artistic Director/Principal Conductor, of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Juvenil (National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Chile) from 2004-2016.

Recent appearances have included the Houston Symphony, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia (National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia), Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago (Philharmonic Orchestra of Santiago), Opéra Saint-Étienne, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Peru (Lima University Symphony Orchestra in Peru), Staatsoper Orchester de Braunschweig in Germany, Orquesta Sinfonica UNCuyo (UNCuyo Symphony Orchestra) in Mendoza, Argentina and the Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias (Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias) in Spain. He conducted the first college production of the opera, The Handmaid’s Tale by Poul Ruders, with the Temple University Symphony Orchestra in November 2025.

Recent commissions as a composer include a Mass in Memory of Gabriela Mistral, which premiered in Chile in 2025, a new ballet titled, La Casa de Los Espíritus (The House of Spirits) based on the bestselling novel by Isabel Allende. Its premiere in September 2019 at the Municipal de Santiago-Ópera Nacional de Chile with the Ballet de Santiago and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago (which Mr. Domínguez also conducted), was hailed as an “absolute triumph.” In addition, Jason DePue, violinist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, commissioned Domínguez to write a piece for violin and piano titled Aitona that was included in DePue’s 2021 debut solo album. His Concerto for Oboe premiered in early 2020 with oboist, Jorge Pinzón, and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá (Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra), Colombia to critical acclaim. The Library of Congress selected Mr. Domínguez’s Gratias Tibi for physically distanced orchestra and choir, a New Jersey Symphony commission, for inclusion in its collection of works created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upcoming commissions include an opera, a violin concerto, a viola concerto and a cello concerto. Future conducting engagements include the Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile (Symphony Orchestra of Chile), the Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de La Serena (University of La Serena Symphony Orchestra), the Orquesta de Cámera de Chile (Chamber Orchesta of Chile) and the world-renowned Semanas Musicales de Frutillar (Frutillar Musical Weeks) held in Frutillar, Chile at Teatro del Lago.

Mr. Domínguez released critically acclaimed Naxos recordings of his own ballet, The Legend of Joaquín Murieta, and the music of Enrique Soro with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile. He has collaborated most notably with Renée Fleming, Terell Stafford, Andrés Diaz, Ray Chen, Sergio Tiempo, Ai Nihira, Verónica Villarroel, Luciana D’Intino, Woo-Yun Kim and Daniel Binelli.

Learn more about Maestro Domínguez

Sebastian Grand, Assistant Conductor

Internationally acclaimed for performances of “great authority” and “heartfelt expression”, Sebastian Grand is a dynamic and highly sought-after musical leader who maintains an extensive schedule of engagements both in the US and Europe.

Mr. Grand holds conducting positions with numerous orchestras on the East Coast. He is entering his fifth season as Music Director of the Delaware County Symphony in Pennsylvania, and his third as Music Director of the McLean Symphony in Northern Virginia. Sebastian has served as Assistant Conductor of the Bucks County Symphony since 2017, and is on the conducting staff for the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, where he regularly leads subscription concerts. Sebastian’s guest conducting work includes performances across the US and in Europe, including with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and Wiener Kammerorchester.

Prior to emigrating to the US, Sebastian held the position of Music Director with the Guernsey Sinfonietta for eight years. He participated in several international conducting competitions, most notably as a finalist in the first Erich Bergel Conducting Competition, and studied on the Orkney Conducting Course and at the International Musicians Academy. He has worked with an extensive portfolio of ensembles, including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Trondheim Soloists, Kew Sinfonia, Vidin Sinfonietta, Orchestra of the Swan, Odyssey Symphony Orchestra, University of Manchester String Orchestra, and the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia.

A first-class graduate of the Joint Course between the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Sebastian received a Master’s with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in London. Notable awards include three Hargreaves Prizes and the Procter-Gregg Prize at Manchester University, the Clifton Helliwell Memorial Prize at the Royal Northern College of Music, and the Dorothy Bryant Award at the Royal Academy of Music. Sebastian also works as a concert pianist, and has performed as concerto soloist in both North America and Europe. He has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Bridgewater Hall and the Barbican Centre.

Passionate about music education, Sebastian was appointed Music Director of the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County in 2024. He directs the Grand School of Music, overseeing instrumental tuition for over 200 students, and has worked as a conductor for the Bucks County Music Educators Association (BCMEA) and Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA). Sebastian has worked as a Collaborative Pianist for the University of Delaware, served as a coach and accompanist for the Philadelphia International Music Festival, and held adjunct faculty positions at Lafayette College and George School.

Learn more about Mr. Grand