Norman Gamboa
Conductor

Norman Gamboa is in his fifth season as Music Director/Conductor of the Washburn Symphony Orchestra. Since his appointment, Gamboa has significantly increased audience attendance through a very innovative concert programming, a strategic planning initiative that focuses on artistic growth and community outreach. Audiences have had the opportunity to experience a true commitment to musical excellence, first-class guest soloists, and a non-stop dedication towards educational programs. He also initiated a local opera program at Washburn University in conjunction with the Topeka Opera Society.

Mr. Gamboa is a versatile conductor, equally at home with opera, ballet, chamber and symphonic orchestral repertoire. He has appeared numerous times as guest conductor with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, the Honduras National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nicaragua National Orchestra, the Salina Symphony, Hays Symphony, and Topeka Symphony orchestras in Kansas, Kansas City Philharmonia in Missouri, the State Symphony Orchestra of Sao Paulo in Brazil, the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra in Colombia, the Západocesky Symfonicky Orchestr in the Czech Republic, Ploiesti Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, the Los Llanos Symphony and Mérida State Symphony orchestras in Venezuela, and the Las Vegas Youth Philharmonic.

Gamboa is well-known for his great energy and dedication towards young people. He has served several times as guest conductor and clinician with honors orchestras for the Kansas Music Educators Association, Oklahoma High School Activities Association, Baylor University Summer Music Programs, and the Western Kansas Orchestra Festival. He is in great demand as a clinician throughout the State of Kansas.

Before his appointment at Washburn, Gamboa served as Music Director with the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra en Texas, U.S.A., as well as Associate Conductor with the Las Vegas Music Festival. He was recently designated Associate Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Collegium Musicum of Santiago in Chile. Also, Gamboa has been guest artist in well-known music festivals such as the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, the Central American Festival of Chamber Music, the International Music Festival of Medellín in Colombia, the Villarrica Music Festival in Chile, the International Festival of Arts of Costa Rica, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Bregenzer Festispiele in Austria, the Las Vegas Music Festival, the OSESP International Orchestra Conductors Competition of Brazil, the Regina Music Festival in Canada, as well as the New York Brass Conference.

Photo by FryeAllen, inc.