CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT – Fernanda Lastra
- tiakanigan2
- Jun 27
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 30
About the Music Director Search
This season, the Great Falls Symphony is thrilled to welcome six outstanding finalists as part of our search for the next music director. Each candidate will conduct a concert and spend time in our community, sharing not only their artistry but their vision for what the Symphony could mean in our town.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Great Falls,” says Executive Director Hillary Shepherd. “We invite everyone–patrons, musicians, and first-time concert goers alike–to come experience each conductor and help us imagine the next chapter of our Symphony’s future.”
Stay tuned for more candidate spotlights as we introduce the other five finalists throughout the season!
Meet Fernanda Lastra
Passion, Purpose, & Heart
For Fernanda Lastra, conducting is more than a profession, it’s a lifelong calling shaped by resilience, creativity, and a belief that music can transform communities. Whether she is conducting a world-class orchestra or building an ensemble from the ground up, Fernanda brings fierce dedication, warmth, and vision to everything she touches.
Fernanda grew up in Mar del Plata, a coastal city in Argentina, where she began ballet at age eight and piano at ten. She split her studies between a local conservatory and school of dance while singing in choirs throughout her youth. At 15, she joined a 180-member chorus that performed major masterworks with the Mar del Plata Symphony Orchestra. One of her first performances was Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony–a life changing moment. The choir sat onstage for the entire concert, waiting for the climactic “Ode to Joy” finale. From her seat, Fernanda was captivated by the conductor. Being in the chorus she could see the conductor's process through the rehearsals into the final performance. “Beethoven was a teenage hero of mine,” she says. “He was a rebel and so full of energy. He wanted to change the world. I did too, and that still resonates with me.”
She continued formal piano studies and sang in choirs throughout high school, and by graduation, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in both choral and orchestral conducting. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in orchestral and choral conducting from La Plata National University and later became the first professional musician in her family. In Argentina, formal assistant conducting roles are rare, so she created her own opportunities–founding the La Trama Ensemble, managing everything from rehearsals to fundraising, web design to social media. In Argentina, there’s no tradition of philanthropy in the arts since the government financially supports those programs, so fundraising for her ensemble was a major task. She also launched Compositores Argentina, an interview series highlighting Argentine composers.
Fernanda conducting the La Trama Ensemble in Argentina.
Determined to grow, Fernanda made the decision to move to the United States in 2016. “I wanted to move forward in my career and change the world, sort of like Beethoven,” she laughs. “I could have had a pleasant academic career in Argentina, but my heart was not there. I wanted to follow my passion and grow as a conductor.” It wasn’t easy–navigating graduate school applications, preparing for the English exams, and applying to multiple programs took intense effort. But with the support of family, mentors, and friends, she succeeded. She earned a Master’s degree from Penn State and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa, while also serving as a teaching assistant and assistant conductor. Her journey was fueled by passion, even amid the personal and financial challenges of studying abroad. “It came with a price–being far from my family, financial risks, and academic pressure–but my passion was the motor that kept me going.”
Today, Fernanda lives in Buffalo, New York, where she is the assistant conductor and fellow at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the mentorship of JoAnn Falletta. She leads family concerts, educational programs, summer shows, and has conducted Pops performances with an upcoming debut in the Classical series in 2025. She also works with the BPO’s education and artistic teams and serves on its Diversity Council. “I feel blessed to work there. I really love my job and my mentors, but it is a fellowship. It comes to an end and another fellow is coming their way.”
Fernanda is fluent in three languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese, and has knowledge of French, Italian, and a tiny bit of German, which helps her connect across cultures and bring a truly global perspective to her work. For Fernanda, conducting is about more than music, it’s about building bridges:
“As conductors, we are educators too. Not in the sense of ‘I know more than you,’ but in the sense of sharing wonder, playfulness, and curiosity. We help people fall in love with music–or remember how to.”
She believes music should be accessible, emotionally resonant, and above all, communal. It’s not just about the technical details, it’s about connection.
“Music evokes memories. It taps into who we are. That’s why it matters.”
Fernanda’s philosophy as a music director is rooted in collaboration and deep community engagement.
“Being in the community is important because, as music director, we can’t create those experiences if we don't know our audience. The orchestra is the community, it’s not the Fernanda Lastra Symphony. I need to meet people where they are, then bring something new to the table–like sampling a new flavor. My job is to make those moments possible.”
She sees Great Falls as a place with unique potential–a hidden gem.
“What’s special about this community? What do we have that no one else does? How can a symphony be relevant and meaningful to the community? We can discover that together. A local orchestra can be a world-class experience, and I want to help make that a reality.”
What can you expect from Fernanda’s upcoming program with the Great Falls Symphony?
“The music speaks about heritage, identity, and storytelling. Personal stories from the roots of the composers include music that is close to their hearts and genuine. They are being themselves, not trying to imitate anyone else. It’s expressive, romantic, and deeply human. I can’t wait to explore this program with the musicians and share it with the entire community.”
She invites everyone to attend with curiosity.
“Music gives us the chance to see the world from our home. Composers give us the opportunity to get tastes of the world. Music embraces everyone. It is a shared history and when we listen together, we’re part of something bigger.”
Fernanda Lastra is sponsored by Chuck & Gerry Jennings. All of our Music Director Finalist Candidates are sponsored by The Gibson Hotel, City Motor Company, and Rib & Chop House–Great Falls!
Get to Know All of Our Finalist Music Director Candidates
This is just the beginning of our journey to finding the next music director of the Great Falls Symphony. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be introducing each of the candidates, all of whom bring something special to the table. Stay tuned for more candidate spotlights, and don't miss the opportunity to see these outstanding conductors in action during their upcoming performances.
To read their professional biographies or to learn more about the upcoming season and buy season tickets, click below.
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