HS Clinic with Simón Zerpa 11/19/19

Simón Zerpa is an energetic and charismatic orchestra conductor, trained as a violinist in the National System of Youth Orchestras and Choirs in Venezuela. He currently resides in the United States, and was recently a finalist for the position of Music Director of the Pro Artè Chamber Orchestra of Greater Washington, DC. In recent years, Mr. Zerpa has maintained an active conducting schedule throughout the United States and abroad. In 2015 he co-produced and conducted an orchestral festival in Mérida Venezuela, Orquesta Jóvenes de Mérida. The same year, Simón collaborated with American composer and Pulitzer Prize winner David Land, conducting his work “Pierced” at the composer’s Festival at the University of Shenandoah.

Zerpa made his operatic conducting debut in Mozart's Magic Flute with the opera company of the Shenandoah Conservatory in April 2017. That same year, he toured in Argentina with the Orchestra of the Shenandoah Conservatory as Assistant Director to Venezuelan conductor Jan Wagner where he had the opportunity to conduct in multiple cities throughout the tour. In 20

18, Mr. Zerpa was engaged as assistant conductor at the National Music Festival with Maestro Richard Rosenberg, and also appeared as guest conductor at the Oneworld Symphonic Festival. Simón

Zerpa is currently pursuing his doctorate in orchestral conducting at the University of Iowa under the supervision of Maestro William Jones. In addition to his continuing studies at the University, he also holds a teaching assistant position, and conducts the chamber orchestra and all- university string orchestra. Recently, Zerpa has been commissioned by composer Julian Ravie to record his orchestral work Metéora, which will take place in the coming months with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. He also conducts the Central College orchestra here in Pella.