ABOUT

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, conductor Sara Aldana is recognized for her sensitivity and charisma on the podium. She currently serves as Cover Conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra. Previously, she held positions as Assistant Conductor of the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of the Life Sciences Orchestra. 

In 2024, Sara was the conducting fellow and assistant conductor to Maestro Alondra de la Parra at Festival Paax GNP in Mexico, working closely with the Impossible Orchestra. She also took part in the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, to study with Maestro Cristian Măcelaru and Octavio Mas-Arocas  and was a guest conductor at the American Romanian Festival in Detroit, where she collaborated with musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she conducted the premiere of “Concert Black”, a musical by Mattie Levy.

Sara is committed to making music accessible and meaningful through education and community engagement. As an assistant with the Reno Chamber Orchestra, she led workshops and mentorship sessions for students while also helping develop a Latinx music library for educators, expanding access to diverse repertoire in classrooms in the area. This dedication to inclusive programming extended to Fiesta: A Celebration of Latin American Music, a bilingual concert experience she launched in Austin with support from the Rainwater Innovation Grant. Bringing together an orchestra of local musicians, teachers, and students, the project highlighted the depth and diversity of Latin American music. Through collaborations with Latinx organizations, Fiesta reinforced Sara’s mission to use music as a bridge for learning, cultural exchange, and community connection.

An accomplished violinist, Sara holds two degrees in violin performance from the University of Texas at Austin. She won the university’s Concerto Competition, performing Barber’s Violin Concerto with the UT Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as a soloist with the Balcones Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Civic Orchestra. From 2016 to 2023, she performed on a violin by Oliver Radke, generously loaned to her through the Virtu Foundation.

Sara recently completed her degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Michigan under the guidance of Professor Kenneth Kiesler. She has been mentored by esteemed musicians including Kelly Kuo, Douglas Kinney-Frost, Sally O’Reilly, Brian Lewis, and William Fedkenheuer.

Beyond the podium, Sara finds inspiration in soccer, both as a player and a devoted fan of FC Barcelona.