Praised as “thrilling,” “world-class,” and “inspirational,” Portuguese-American conductor and producer Jacomo Bairos is at the vanguard of a new generation of conductors, with a career spanning symphonic masterworks, cross-genre collaborations, and an eclectic discography with Grammy-winning artists across genres. As Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Nu Deco Ensemble, called “sonically spellbinding” by Billboard, Bairos continues to redefine what an orchestra can achieve, remaining equally in demand with the world’s leading orchestras across North America and Europe.
In the 2026–27 season, Bairos debuts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony, and the WDR Funkhausorchester, while returning to the Boston Pops and Detroit Symphony and curating programs for the Atlanta Symphony. Recent highlights include his London debut with Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican, and debuts with the Colorado Symphony and the Indianapolis Symphony. He has also appeared with the San Francisco, St. Louis, National, Iceland, Singapore, and Houston Symphonies, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Boston and Cincinnati Pops.
Described as “a chamber orchestra for the 21st century” by the New York Times, Nu Deco Ensemble has pushed the boundaries of orchestral music through genre-defying performances, transformative collaborations, and dynamic programming. Under Bairos’ co-leadership, the ensemble has released 15 albums, including Duende
(Sony Music Masterworks) and the Billboard-charting Paint the Roses with Larkin Poe, collaborating and recording with artists including Wyclef Jean, Angelique Kidjo, Jacob Collier, PJ Morton, and Robert Glasper, to name a few. His long-standing relationship with Europe’s Metropole Orkest won the 2026 South African Music Award for Wrapped in Rhythm, Vol. II featuring vocalist Tutu Puoane.
A dedicated champion of new music, Bairos has commissioned dozens of new works through Nu Deco Ensemble, with commissions from artists including Kishi Bashi, Derrick Hodge, Valerie Coleman, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, assembling a living, evolving repertoire that speaks directly to the world we live in today. His collaborations extend beyond Nu Deco, from Jon Batiste, Andrew Bird, and Faye Webster to leading classical voices including J’Nai Bridges, Jennifer Koh, and Bryce Dessner.
During his tenure as Music Director of the Amarillo Symphony (2013–2021), Bairos elevated artistic standards, launched the orchestra’s first composer residencies, premiered over twenty new works, and built sustained organizational momentum grounded in shared vision and community leadership.
A Juilliard-trained tubist, Bairos performed and recorded with the New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra before serving as Principal Tuba of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He later joined the studio of Gustav Meier at the Peabody Institute by personal invitation and studied at the Aspen Music Festival under Robert Spano, with mentorship from Kurt Masur and Jorma Panula. A certified yoga teacher, meditation coach, and breathwork facilitator, he divides his time between Miami Beach, Florida, and Lisbon, Portugal.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSO by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
