Nestor Bayona (born 10 December 1985) is a Spanish conductor. He is a frequent guest conductor at the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opéra de Marseille.
Life and career
Born in Lleida, Nestor Bayona began his career as a pianist, training at the Conservatory de Lleida at the age of 6. He then moved to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he studied Piano with Helen Krizos, before continuing onto the Geneva University of Music to study piano with Nelson Goerner and then conducting with Laurent Gay. He went on to pursue a postgraduate diploma in conducting at the Berlin University of the Arts with Steven Sloane.
Néstor Bayona was appointed Resident Conductor at the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in the 2022-23 season
During the 2021–22 season Néstor Bayona made his debut at the Palau de la Música Catalana with the Orquestra del Reial Cercle Artístic de Barcelona, as well as a debut at the Liceu as part of the OH!PÈRA initiative. In 2019, he also made his official conducting debut at the Berliner Philharmonie with the Deutsch-Skandinavische Jugend-Philharmonie and at the Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron 2019 with the soloist David Kadouch and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, which was broadcast live on France Musique.
Nestor Bayona previously served as assistant conductor to Lawrence Foster at the Opéra de Marseille and at the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. He was also assistant to Henrik Nánási at the Liceu and to Steven Sloane at the Komische Oper Berlin.
As a conductor, Nestor Bayona also has experience in composing. During the pandemic, he re-orchestrated Verdi's Luisa Miller for a reduced ensemble of 20 musicians. He has also worked closely with Marin Alsop during her Japan tour with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in September 2022 as well as her conducting masterclasses in Katowice.
Awards
In December 2022, Nestor Bayona was awarded Associate Member of the Royal Northern College of Music, presided by Sir John Tomlinson (bass) for his achievements as a musician In 2015, Nestor Bayona was awarded the Ciutat de Lleida International Award for his cultural contribution to his hometown