José Soares

José Soares is the Associate Conductor of the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra and the First Prize winner of the 19th Tokyo International Conducting Competition. His recent engagements include orchestras as the New Japan Philharmonic, Hiroshima Symphony, Nagoya Philharmonic and the MÁV Symphony Orchestra in Budapest, along with brazilian orchestras such as the Sao Paulo Symphony (OSESP), Brazilian Symphony (OSB), Paraná Symphony, Porto Alegre Symphony (OSPA), among others. In the 2025 season he will make his debut in May with the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, José started in music studying piano and choir singing coached by his mother, Ana Yara Campos. He studied orchestral conducting with Claudio Cruz, in a partnership with Sao Paulo Youth Symphony Orchestra. Being accepted as a fellow of two consecutive editions of the Campos do Jordao Winter Festival, where he won the 2017 Festival Conducting Prize, having classes with Marin Alsop, Arvo Volmer, Giancarlo Guerrero, Neil Thomson and Alexander Libreich. Soares holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from Sâo Paulo State University.

José first conducted the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra during a masterclass with Fabio Mechetti and the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra - OSESP in a Sunday concert, invited by its Musical Director Marin Alsop. José has been invited to serve as guest assistant conductor of OSESP for the 2018 season. In 2019 he was a conducting fellow of the Jarvi Academies' program of the Parnu Music Festival, having classes with Paavo Jarvi and Leonid Grin. His tenure with the Minas Philharmonic started in the 2022 Season as the Assistant Conductor, becoming the Associate Conductor beginning of the 2020 Season.

Apart from his performing role, José has been an active player within the Educational Platform of the Minas Phil Orchestra, co-developing and conducting the Orchestra’s Young People’s Concert as a broadcasted series throughout Brazil, as well as engaging with the new audiences through Open-Air Concerts and other media initiatives. The commitment to education is also expressed in the relationship with Youth Orchestras, having conducted the São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro Youth Symphonies in 2024, and acting as Principal Guest for the Academia Jovem Concertante in their 2025 Brazilian tour.