Biography
Darwin Aquino
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.
His conducting engagements have included the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, Palm Beach Symphony, Interlochen Center for the Arts, National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz, Saarländisches Staatsorchester, Filarmónica Boca del Río, Chicago Summer Opera, Missouri Arts Festival, and Cleveland Opera, among others. He has also been selected as a Music Director finalist for the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, he conducted nine world premieres with the New Works Collective between 2022 and 2025.
As a composer, signing his works as DrwAq, Aquino has collaborated with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and festivals throughout the Americas and Europe. Upcoming commissions include works for the Cornell University Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Women's Chorale, Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and Germany’s Lux Nova Duo. His orchestral work Espacio Ritual, premiered by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in Paris, received critical acclaim for its originality and orchestral craftsmanship. Recent projects include Vom Imaginatio Folkloricus 3.5, presented at the Philharmonie Berlin’s Kammermusiksaal, Resonanzraum in Hamburg, and Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in Madrid; Fantastic Flux, recorded by Ensemblast; and Chacona in Flux, premiered by Chamber Project St. Louis.
Aquino’s music has been performed by ensembles including the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Venezuela, the Orchestra of the Americas, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Heredia, the Santo Domingo Music Festival Orchestra, the San Francisco Civic Orchestra, and the National Symphony of El Salvador. His chamber works have been presented by institutions and festivals such as the Juilliard School, New Music ISCM in Miami, the Latin American Music Festival in Venezuela, SMASH Salamanca in Spain, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the University of Michigan, the International Forum of New Music in Mexico, Arizona State University, the Universidad de Costa Rica, and North South Consonance in New York, further reflecting the international reach of his work.
Aquino's contributions to music have been recognized with the Musici Mojanesi Composition Prize in Italy, three National Music Prizes, and two Academic Composition Prizes in the Dominican Republic. He was elected the youngest member of the Latin American Collegium of Composers and has served as a juror for the Casa de las Américas International Composition Prize in Cuba. He later served as Composer-in-Residence of the Dominican National Symphony Orchestra. His career brings together conducting, composition, education, and cultural advocacy.
Current as of October 7th, 2026
Darwin Aquino
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.
His conducting engagements have included the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, Palm Beach Symphony, Interlochen Center for the Arts, National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Mainz, Saarländisches Staatsorchester, Filarmónica Boca del Río, Chicago Summer Opera, Missouri Arts Festival, and Cleveland Opera, among others. He has also been selected as a Music Director finalist for the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, he conducted nine world premieres with the New Works Collective between 2022 and 2025.
As a composer, signing his works as DrwAq, Aquino has collaborated with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and festivals throughout the Americas and Europe. Upcoming commissions include works for the Cornell University Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Women's Chorale, Washington University Symphony Orchestra, and Germany’s Lux Nova Duo. His orchestral work Espacio Ritual, premiered by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in Paris, received critical acclaim for its originality and orchestral craftsmanship. Recent projects include Vom Imaginatio Folkloricus 3.5, presented at the Philharmonie Berlin’s Kammermusiksaal, Resonanzraum in Hamburg, and Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in Madrid; Fantastic Flux, recorded by Ensemblast; and Chacona in Flux, premiered by Chamber Project St. Louis.
Aquino’s music has been performed by ensembles including the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Venezuela, the Orchestra of the Americas, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Heredia, the Santo Domingo Music Festival Orchestra, the San Francisco Civic Orchestra, and the National Symphony of El Salvador. His chamber works have been presented by institutions and festivals such as the Juilliard School, New Music ISCM in Miami, the Latin American Music Festival in Venezuela, SMASH Salamanca in Spain, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the University of Michigan, the International Forum of New Music in Mexico, Arizona State University, the Universidad de Costa Rica, and North South Consonance in New York, further reflecting the international reach of his work.
Aquino's contributions to music have been recognized with the Musici Mojanesi Composition Prize in Italy, three National Music Prizes, and two Academic Composition Prizes in the Dominican Republic. He was elected the youngest member of the Latin American Collegium of Composers and has served as a juror for the Casa de las Américas International Composition Prize in Cuba. He later served as Composer-in-Residence of the Dominican National Symphony Orchestra. His career brings together conducting, composition, education, and cultural advocacy.
Current as of October 7th, 2026