JOSÉ-LUIS NOVO

The Philip Richebourg Chair

Spanish born José-Luis Novo instilled a new and vibrant artistic vision into the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra since his appointment as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Maryland-based symphony in 2005. Highlights of Novo’s tenure include numerous appearances at the Music Center at Strathmore with violinists James Ehnes, Anne Akiko Meyers, Leticia Moreno and Chee-Yun, pianist Olga Kern, late cellist Lynn Harrell, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, pipa virtuoso Wu Man and the Naval Academy Glee Club. Also remarkable are a 2012 return appearance at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, national broadcasts on NPR’s Performance Today, debut TV broadcasts on Washington’s WETA Metro PBS, the launching of the ASO’s award-winning streaming platform Symphony+, the creation of the Annapolis Symphony Academy and the ASO’s first commercial CD commemorating the 300th anniversary of the signing of the City of Annapolis’ Royal Charter. In July of 2022,

Maestro Novo and the ASO stunned audiences on both sides of the Atlantic in a debut international tour to Spain with guitar virtuoso Pepe Romero as guest soloist.

Maestro Novo’s continuous drive for artistic excellence, innovative thematic programming, and collaborations with some of today’s most respected guest artists keeps generating unprecedented artistic growth and enthusiastic reviews from publications such as The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun.

In addition to his directorship of the ASO, Maestro Novo held an impressive thirteen-year tenure as Music Director and Conductor of the Binghamton Philharmonic in New York state from 2003 to 2016. Prior to this, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under both late Music Director Emeritus Jesús López-Cobos and former Music Director Paavo Järvi, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the late Erich Kunzel.

The Artistic Director’s Chair is graciously underwritten by Elizabeth Richebourg Rea, daughter of Philip Richebourg, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Co-Founder and First Board President (1967-1974).

“Dedicated to each task at hand, my father approached all things in life as if resolute in achieving one goal, that of perfect harmony. I can think of no greater legacy than naming the Artistic Director’s Chair after my father, Philip Richebourg.”