About Darwin
Known for his charismatic energy, his strong artistic convictions, and musical versatility, Dominican American composer, conductor, and violinist Darwin Aquino is making an impact worldwide leading acclaimed performances of new works, symphonic music, opera, and ballet, with a particular focus on the Latin American repertoire.
He is currently in his fifth season as Artistic & Music Director of the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, where he has worked extensively to amplify the recognition of the ensemble as one of the most noted performing arts organizations in the Midwest. Recent engagements include conducting debuts with Opera Southwest in New Mexico (Boccherini’s Clementina / U.S. premiere), the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO), and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Recently, Darwin was selected as the new Head of Music for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, where he has also served as Conductor for the New Works Collective since its inception in 2023, leading its first nine world premieres to great success and earning a reputation as a champion of new music.
Media
Conducting debut in Ohio with The Cleveland Opera, leading Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess
Article published in Cleveland Classical on May 28, 2019 “Although I’ve never led the entire opera, all conductors do concert versions of Porgy and Bess, because the tunes are so popular — ‘Summertime,’ ‘I got plenty o’ nuttin’,’ ‘It ain’t necessarily so.’ And there...
Article as the new Music Director of the Gateway Festival Orchestra
Article published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on July 12, 2019. Dominican conductor Darwin Aquino is the orchestra’s third music director. He’s working with the 50-piece paid orchestra, made up of instrumentalists ranging from university students to seasoned...
When Music Changes Lives – article by Darwin Aquino in ReVista, Harvard Review on Latin America
In 2004, I got a surprising phone call from Santo Domingo on one cold winter night. I was then studying musical composition in Strasbourg, France, a great opportunity for a young Dominican musician. The officials of the recently elected government of my country were...
Una Isla: Dos Mundos, new publication by Darwin Aquino in Cayambis Music Press
Composed in 2015, this work for flute and violin continues Aquino's investigations of the african origins of folk music in the Dominican Republic. Duet for flute and violin.Grade 6. Approximate duration: eight minutes.The set includes a score and two parts Available in:
Interview about Darwin’s recent compositions with St. Louis Public Radio
When Darwin Aquino was a young boy growing up in the Dominican Republic, his father directed him to choose one instrument to learn to play. Aquino opted for the violin and, with that early decision, took his first steps along a musical journey that would eventually...
Suite for Orchestra from Insomnia Ballet
Dominican classics disc 6 / vol. II Historical collection of music by classical composers from the Dominican Republic.