Renowned Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero Leads Master Class with Symphony Orchestra Students

“Every note needs to tell a story. To miss a note is okay, but to play a note without life, without joy, is a crime.” — Giancarlo Guerrero 

Students from the School of Music’s symphony orchestra filled the stage of McAfee Concert Hall this spring, eager to work with six-time GRAMMY Award-winning conductor of the Nashville Symphony, Giancarlo Guerrero.   

Bringing an unparalleled enthusiasm for the art of conducting, intensely animated as he took the podium, Guerrero spoke to students about where such a passion for conducting began.

Recounting his past, Guerrero shared stories of standing in line in for the Chicago Symphony even in the harsh cold of January. Even if he was seated in the highest balcony, a pole blocking his view, he remained week in and week out to relish in the joy of seeing musicians play at a level he could not even imagine.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Musicians 

Stemming from the inspiration received from early days watching the Chicago Symphony, Guerrero explained to students that “your main job as a conductor is to inspire. That is what you do. You try to bring out the best of any ensemble.”  And bring out the best he did. Guerrero worked with students on Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to “Candide,” an operetta famed for its comic and intellectual complexity soaring with notes of jazz styles. 

Dr. Christopher Fashun, assistant professor of music and director of orchestras, explained Guerrero challenged students “with reminders of how fundamentals like having great rhythm and listening skills are essential for success in music.” Bringing his animated charisma to the podium, Guerrero “brought the music to life by explaining that expression and saying something is integral to sharing music with an audience,” said Fashun.  

A Note to Future Musicians 

Guerrero offered students a piece of advice to carry with them throughout their careers in musicianship: “There is no alternative to practice and discipline. There is no secret either. I’ve been privileged to work with some of the greatest soloists, and they all have one thing in common: they practice.” 

He explained that no matter the caliber you reach, the art of practice is forever instilled in the life of a musician. Whether it takes ten minutes of your day, or five hours, you always set a goal for yourself to achieve, and the next time you go further. Musicianship is about constant growth —  always striving to further your craft.    

Through Guerrero’s highlighting of essentials to growth and persistence such as these, Fashun explained many students were overjoyed at the experience, challenging them both on the level of an individual performer and a member of the collective orchestra.  

Sharing a Love for Music   

Reflecting on the impact the Master Class had on his own musicianship, Guerrero explained his visit to Belmont was “a very inspiring experience for the privilege of making music with these talented students,” noting that he is always eager to share his love of music with the next generation of music professionals.

Guerrero shared with students that with every piece, “every note must tell a story. To miss a note is okay, but to play a note without life, without joy, is a crime.” Without the shared emotion of every player on stage, the music is simply a bunch of notes on a page. Together, we can work to create our own story fueled by the transformative power of music.