About Darwin
Dominican conductor and composer Darwin Aquino is one of the most internationally active Caribbean musical artists of his generation. Equally accomplished on the podium and as a composer, he has built a career spanning the Americas and Europe, shaped by artistic leadership, keen originality, and a commitment to Latin American culture. His work reflects a synthesis of folkloric traditions and contemporary expression, drawing inspiration from the rhythms, colors, and imagination of the Caribbean.
Aquino currently serves as Head of Music at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Music Director of the St. Louis Ballet Orchestra and the Musica Sacra Concert Series at Santo Domingo’s National Cathedral, and Conductor-in-Residence with the Washington University Symphony Orchestra. He served as Artistic and Music Director of the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra from 2021 to 2026 and as Music Director of the Gateway Festival Orchestra from 2019 to 2024. Previously, he spent twelve years as Artistic and Music Director of El Sistema Dominican Republic and served as Director of the National Conservatory of Music, advancing orchestral training, artistic development, and community outreach...
Media
Missouri Arts Council selects Darwin as Featured Artist
Since we founded our Missouri Featured Artists Program in 2020, we have highlighted more than 200 imaginative makers from throughout the state. We’ve brought you painters, pencil artists, sculptors, dancers, singers, instrumental musicians, poets, novelists, filmmakers, ceramicists, jewelry artists, glass artists, and many more who create in myriad other ways. You’ll find them all in the ever-growing gallery below our current highlighted quartet.
Darwin leads the USA Premiere of L. Boccherinni’s “Doña Clementina”
Experience love, honor, and Spanish flair in Luigi Boccherini’s opera Doña Clementina, making its American debut. Follow the captivating journey of a courageous young woman navigating passion, loyalty, and the trials of family honor, all set to stirring melodies and sung en español. Soprano Teresa Castillo returns to make her official Opera Southwest debut in the title role.
Darwin’s recent accomplishments in Dominican Newspaper (in Spanish)
The Dominican conductor, composer and violinist has forged his career by fusing the African and Hispanic roots of the Caribbean with his classical training…
From the Conductor’s Podium of the New Works Collective
It has been an absolute pleasure and rewarding experience to be part of OTSL’s New Works Collective (NWC). I have had the privilege of witnessing the development of this unique commissioning project since day one and how it is making such a big impact, at all levels, in the world of new opera…
World premiere of latest composition in Philharmonie Berlin
Concert 1 & 2 – Instituto Cervantes (Oct. 17 2024) & Resonanzraum (Nov. 9 2024) – Hamburg, Germany / Concert 3 – Philharmonie Berlin (Nov. 13 2024) – Germany
Darwin’s “Perfume” premieres in New Jersey to celebrate Latin Music
This program features works by contemporary composers Guido López Gavilán (Cuba), Miguel Astor (Venezuela), Darwin Aquino (Dominican Republic), Johanny Navarro and Ernesto Cordero (Puerto Rico), along with songs from Brazil, Haiti, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru.