Giancarlo Guerrero has been named Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival.

Guerrero is a six-time Grammy Award winner and led the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus for three concerts throughout 2024. He is the current music director of the Nashville Symphony and Music Director Designate of the Sarasota Orchestra.

In 2025, he will conduct for four weeks with the festival.

Guerrero takes over for Carlos Kalmar, who held the position for 25 years and is now conductor laureate. Kalmar announced that he would step down in 2021 at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

“From the moment I first walked onto the stage of the glorious Pritzker Pavilion, and looked out at the sea of people – a snapshot of the entire city of Chicago – it was immediately apparent what a gift the Grant Park Music Festival is to the community. In the heart of this vibrant downtown, in one of the most exciting cities in the world, here is a festival dedicated to orchestral music and designed to be enjoyed by everyone,” said Guerrero in an official press release. “The mission of the Festival aligns closely with my philosophy that music is meant to be enjoyed by people from all walks of life, without boundaries,” said Guerrero. “I felt such a natural, easy connection with these incredible musicians – including both the stellar orchestra and the spectacular chorus. I recognized sparks flying, musically speaking, from my first interactions with them from the podium. These musicians, hailing from orchestras and opera companies from the region and throughout the world, are really the best of the best.”

Guerrero was elected unanimously by the Grant Park Orchestral Association during the Sept. 23 meeting.