The MISO Golden Baton Recognition Award is given annually by the board of directors of the Miami Symphony Orchestra to an outstanding member of our community in recognition for his/ her invaluable contribution for the arts and culture in South Florida. Initiated in 2014 the award has been given to Judit Drucker, Mark Rosenberg, Michael Spring, Eduardo Padrón and now Emilio Estefan in 2018.
For 2017 we can not think of a more appropriate person than Dr. Padrón to be the 4th recipient of the award.
An American by choice, Eduardo J. Padrón arrived in the United States as a teenage refugee in 1961.
Since 1995, he has served as President of Miami Dade College (MDC), the largest institution of higher education in America with more than 165,000 students.
He is credited with elevating MDC into a position of national prominence among the best and most recognized U.S. colleges and universities.
An economist by training, Dr. Padrón earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida.
In 2016, President Barack Obama bestowed upon him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Golden Baton 2018
Golden Baton 2016
Golden Baton 2015
Golden Baton 2014
The MISO Golden Baton Recognition Award is given annually by the board of directors of the Miami Symphony Orchestra to an outstanding member of our community in recognition for his/ her invaluable contribution for the arts and culture in South Florida. Initiated in 2014 the award has been given to Judit Drucker, Mark Rosenberg, Michael Spring, Eduardo Padrón and now Emilio Estefan in 2018.
The Miami Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director and Conductor Eduardo Marturet were proud to present its annual golden baton award 2019 to Milly and Patrick Park.
The MISO Golden Baton Recognition Award is given annually by the board of directors of the Miami Symphony Orchestra to an outstanding member of our community in recognition for his/her invaluable contribution to the arts and culture in South Florida. Initiated in 2014, the award has been given to Judit Drucker, Mark Rosenberg, Michael Spring, Eduardo Padrón, Emilio Estefan, and this year we were proud and honored to present the award to Milly and Patrick Park during our opening season concert last Sunday October 20th at the Arsht Center in Miami.
This year’s Golden Baton Award was designed by Venezuelan artist Gustavo Fernandez , who is generally identified as an abstract expressionist/colorist artist. Fernández creation is an explosion of colors and texture. His abstract work is product of a long period of development and evolvement of intense thoughts based on his artistic experiences.
“We are so thrilled and proud to give the Golden Baton award to this wonderful couple who have supported the arts over the years,” adds Maestro Marturet, Music Director and Conductor.
Golden Baton 2018
Golden Baton 2017
Golden Baton 2016
Golden Baton 2015
The MISO Golden Baton Recognition Award is given annually by the board of directors of the Miami Symphony Orchestra to an outstanding member of our community in recognition for his/ her invaluable contribution for the arts and culture in South Florida. Initiated in 2014 the award has been given to Judit Drucker, Mark Rosenberg, Michael Spring, Eduardo Padrón and now Monty Trainer, in 2021.
Golden Baton 2019
Golden Baton 2018
Golden Baton 2017
Golden Baton 2016
In memoriam of the Maestro Manuel Ochoa (1925-2006), whose love and passion for music began The Miami Symphony Orchestra back in 1989. His perseverance and determination that made his dream come alive will always be admired. We will miss him dearly.
«You need to have some of Don Quijote inside to create a symphony orchestra,» said Maestro Ochoa, founder and music director of The Miami Symphony Orchestra. This effort finds its roots in his family, from whom he inherited a profound musical tradition. His mother, Caridad Ochoa, was an excellent opera singer graduated from the Royal Conservatory San Fernando de Cadiz – where Manuel de Falla studied music. It was with his mother that at a very early age Maestro Ochoa began his music studies.
Born in Cuba, Manuel Ochoa made his professional debut at the age of 17 conducting Verdi’s Il Trovatore. From 1942 to 1946, he created and conducted the Choral Society. As Music Director of the Sociedad Coral, he presented renowned international artists – among them the famous Vienna Boys Choir, with whom a close collaboration was started. This relationship served as inspiration to create the «Ninos Cantores de la Habana» (Havana Boy’s Choir) for Cardinal Archbishop Monsignor Manuel Arteaga. Maestro Ochoa graduated from the Conservatorio Internacional de Musica in Havana, and began his rise to become the most famous choral conductor in Havana. He was the conductor of several of the best choirs in Havana – among them El Coro de Madrigalistas – considered the best choir in Cuba. With this group, he presented not only «a capella» polyphonic works but also combined several choirs for the premieres in Cuba of several symphonic-choral works. In Europe, he graduated from the Real Conservatorio de Madrid after receiving a scholarship from the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica. He then continued his studies of conducting technique at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome under Maestro Bonaventura Somma and in Vienna under Hermann Scherchen, an extraordinary musician and creator of the German School of Conducting. Upon returning to Cuba, he was named Professor of Conducting Techniques at the Conservatorio Nacional and conducted the Orquesta Filarmonica de la Habana. He then returned to Europe, where he conducted the Orquesta y Coro de la Radio Nacional de Espana, the Orquesta de Camara de Madrid and the Piccola Opera Di Roma.
In 1959, Maestro Ochoa performed the music of Esteban Salas – which had been lost for 150 years. Esteban Salas, born in Cuba in 1725, is considered the first classical music composer of the Americas. His music was found in the Archives of the Santiago de Cuba Cathedral. In 1960, thanks to Maestro Ochoa’s initiative, the first recordings of Salas’ music were conducted, and his famous «Villancicos» was performed. Years later, the United States premiere of music by Esteban Salas was presented and conducted by Maestro Ochoa.
With a long artistic history of 58 years of continued orchestral conducting, Maestro Ochoa gained the respect of the hundreds of musicians he conducted in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. In 1989, Maestro Manuel Ochoa founded The Miami Symphony Orchestra as a cultural expression of Miami’s multiethnic community. The Orchestra is unique in the United States; founded by a Hispanic conductor, the majority of the members of the Board of Directors are Hispanic and the Orchestra members are of 28 different nationalities.
In June 2000, the Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Ochoa, fulfilled a lifelong dream with a great performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The exciting program featured music by Joaquin Turina, Joaquin Rodrigo and Alberto Ginastera, and culminated with Saint Saen’s masterpiece, Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony). The performance was warmly received with a long standing ovation by the audience.
The Miami Symphony Orchestra (MISO), now in its historic 35th season, is Miami’s Official Symphony Orchestra of the City of Miami and a valuable contributor to Miami’s cultural fabric. With 90 professional musicians selected from around the world, MISO represents the exceptional talent and diversity that mirrors South Florida’s international and multicultural richness. With national and world premieres becoming more common, MISO is a source of growing local pride and support.
2020 was a life-changing year. The global pandemic impacted us all negatively, leaving us uncertain of the future. We were shaken by the pandemic, but it only made us stronger than ever before.
From its origin, The Miami Symphony Orchestra has been composed of a diverse group of musicians and staff. Throughout the years, MISO has had musicians of many national and racial backgrounds: Afro-descendants, Asian, American, European, and Hispanic/Latin. Furthermore, MISO concerts and performances feature music from all around the world!
MISO stands for diversity, inclusion, and equality. No matter who we are or where we come from, we stand together to achieve MISO’s mission of offering high-quality musical programs and using music to make an impact in our diverse, multicultural community!
On July 4th, 2022, Mayor Francis Suárez proclaimed MISO as the official symphony orchestra of the city of Miami! In his statements to the local media, the mayor expressed:
“ As a Miamian, I am proud of the wide cultural offer of our city and the Miami Symphony Orchestra is a fundamental part of the local culture”.
“ We are extremely honored to receive this recognition and to be acknowledged for our local impact”. Said Maestro Eduardo Marturet
The mission of The Miami Symphony Orchestra is to present symphonic music of consistently high-performance standards to a culturally diverse audience, and in a variety of settings and formats, with the aim of educating, engaging, and enriching the community of one of the world’s most international cities.
Its new headquarters is located in The Miami Design District, one of the most emblematic areas of the city. The Miami Symphony Orchestra has undoubtedly made history as it positions itself as a solid organization committed to the city of Miami and that will serve as a floor to develop future talents in the area of music and arts; while delighting the citizens of a vibrant city that is constantly changing and evolving in the cultural scene.
The orchestra’s 2024/2025 season will comprise of three programs to be performed at the Adrienne Arsht Center – Knight Concert Hall, Peacock Park in Coconut Grove, Doral Park, the Miami Design District, and a special Chamber Music Series performed in MISO Headquarters in the Miami Design District. In addition to the concert season, the not-for-profit Symphony has conducted in its headquarters arts and education programs for children at no cost, such as MISO Summer Camp and Miso Children Voices and Ensemble. The Symphony also provides low- or no-cost tickets to students, senior citizens, first responders, active military, and veterans in South Florida.
Founded in 1989 by the late Manuel Ochoa, since 2006 the baton has been in the hands of Eduardo Marturet, a Venezuelan composer and conductor acclaimed across three continents. During his 18-year tenure, Maestro Marturet has taken MISO into the world-class professional symphony of Miami. He states that “Ultimately, MISO belongs to the community, and our job is to raise the artistic level each and every year. Because of our loyal fans and supporters, our future looks bright as the glow of the great city of Miami.”
MISO’s energy and talent are significantly supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council.
The MISO Golden Baton Recognition Award is given annually by the board of directors of the Miami Symphony Orchestra to an outstanding member of our community in recognition for his/ her invaluable contribution for the arts and culture in South Florida. Initiated in 2014 the award has been given to Judit Drucker, Mark Rosenberg, Michael Spring, Eduardo Padrón and now Emilio Estefan in 2018.
Emilio has been instrumental in shaping, developing and directing the careers of his superstar wife, Gloria as well as Shakira, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jon Secada, Alejandro Fernandez, Thalia, Carlos Vives, and Jennifer López, among many others.
His ability to connect with their talent, expression and creativity has been vital in establishing a musical presence second to none.
His resume includes over 30 Grammy nominations and 19 Grammy Awards. Emilio is one of the few producers that produce television events for both General Market and Hispanic Market television.
The Latin Grammy’s on CBS, The Hispanic Heritage Awards on NBC and Nuestra Navidad on Univision, as well as high profile musical productions on HBO and Showtime.
His credibility and professionalism are some of the powerful reasons why he is viewed as an Ambassador in the world of cross-over business. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Emilio as a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities and he has produced many historical musical events at the White House. He was tapped by President Barack Obama to the committee that will create the first National Museum of the American Latino, he sits as the second Vice Chair to the Commission.
Golden Baton 2017
Golden Baton 2016
Golden Baton 2015
Golden Baton 2014
Dr. Lindsay Garritson has performed throughout the United States and abroad since the age of four. She has appeared on stages such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Place des Arts (Montreal), and has been featured as soloist with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra (Texas), Orchestre Métropolitain (Montreal), Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica Barra Mansa (Brazil), the Yale Philharmonic Orchestra, and the European Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.
An award-winning performer, Lindsay has received top prizes at the Montreal International Piano Competition, USASU Bösendorfer International Piano Competition, and the Mozarteum International Chopin Competition (Salzburg). She was selected as a participant in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition as well as a finalist for the German Piano Award in Frankfurt, Germany.
An avid chamber musician, Lindsay has performed with Ani Kavafian, Elmar Oliveira, Carter Brey, Ettore Causa, and Ian Rosenbaum, among many others. She is currently a member of the Bergonzi Piano Trio with violinist Scott Flavin and cellist Ross Harbaugh, and their first album of Beethoven and Brahms trios was released in the summer of 2021. Since 2018, she has been a collaborative pianist for the prestigious Steans Institute at the Ravinia Festival.
Lindsay is a passionate advocate for new music, and her Carnegie Hall solo recital debut in November 2019 featured the world premiere of Carl Vine’s Piano Sonata No. 4, a work written for her. Additionally, her second solo album titled “Aphorisms: Piano Music of Carl Vine” was released in 2020. In October 2022, Lindsay concertized in recital across Australia and New Zealand featuring the music of Carl Vine. She has also recorded the complete works for flute and piano by Samuel Zyman (Albany Records, 2020), and premiered works by composers David Ludwig, Nick Omiccioli, and Polina Nazaykinskaya.
Lindsay holds degrees from Principia College (B.A. in Music), Yale School of Music (M.M. and Artist Diploma), and the University of Miami (D.M.A.). Her piano teachers include Santiago Rodriguez, Boris Berman, Luiz de Moura Castro, Choong-Mo Kang, Zena Ilyashov, Emilio Del Rosario, the late Jane Allen, and Jennifer Lim Judd. She resides in Florida and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in conducting at Florida International University.
MISO Women Community Leadership Award is a new recognition given yearly to extraordinary female leaders for their outstanding work done for our community. This has been created in light of so many important figures that have made remarkable contributions to our city, both socially and culturally.
We are honored and delighted to present our MISO Women Community Leadership Award to guest of honor Nan Bush, Executive Producer and Manager of world-renowned photographer Bruce Weber! Her talents in photography, art and production led her to an exceptional career in the Fashion world. An artist, leader and visionary led her to create unique new fashion brands along all these years next to her husband, Bruce Weber. She is a paramount Executive Producer of many important artists such as Francesco Scavullo, Horst and William Connors, Jerry Ansel and Barry Lategan, and manager of Bruce Weber. She has organized worldwide solo and group exhibitions of famous photographer Bruce Weber.