(Credit: Seth Ian Mower)

Cuban conductor Jessica Altarriba has been appointed Assistant Conductor of the Richmond Symphony, joining the organization beginning with the 2026-27 season.

Altarriba most recently served as Assistant Conductor of the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera and is a recipient of the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship. She joins Music Director Valentina Peleggi, Associate Conductor Hae Lee, Chorus Director Richard W. Robbins, and Composer-in-Residence Joe Jaxson on the Symphony’s artistic leadership team.

“I am honored to join the Richmond Symphony and become part of such a vibrantartistic community,” Altarriba, who previously served as the inaugural Colton Conducting Fellow with the New Jersey Symphony and as a Freeman Conducting Fellow with the Chicago Sinfonietta, said, per an official press release. “The opportunity to work alongside Music Director Valentina Peleggi, Associate Conductor Hae Lee, and the extraordinary musicians of the Richmond Symphony is incredibly exciting. From my first conversations with the organization, I felt a genuine spirit of collaboration and welcome, and I look forward to connecting with audiences throughout Richmond and Central Virginia.”

Born in Cuba, Altarriba’s recent engagements have included appearances with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and ensembles throughout Europe and Latin America. She has also collaborated with Alsop and Gustavo Dudamel.

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