CAO : Artistic Staff

Javier José Mendoza : Music Director and Conductor
Javier José Mendoza is the Music Director and Conductor of the Chicago Arts Orchestra.  In addition to these responsibilities, Mr. Mendoza is also the Music Director of the Metropolis Youth Symphony, in residence at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights, Illinois and Conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the West Suburban Youth Orchestra of Chicago.

Professionally, Mr. Mendoza has attended the conductor training program at Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, working with the Festival Orchestra of Sofia, Bulgaria and Maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.  Other ventures have found Mr. Mendoza serving as the Assistant Chorus Master for the “Music in the Mountains Festival,” Durango, Colorado, as well as guest conducting the Young People’s Chorus of New York City as part of the Transient Glory Symposium.  International performances have included guest conducting the State Philharmonic of Sibiu, Romania, as well as his Latin American community music projects.  In the summer of 2007,  Mr. Mendoza was guest faculty at Colegio Internacional Montessori in Guatemala City, Guatemala.  Mr. Mendoza will return to Guatemala in 2008 to lead the Metropolis Chamber Ensemble, Coro Nacional de Niños and Coro Nacional de Jovenes in the Teatro Nacional, “National Theatre, ” in performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Mr. Mendoza believes very strongly in the power that music has to build community and break down barriers; particularly those which affect the Latin American community around the world.  Recently, Mr. Mendoza was appointed to serve on the North American Coalition of Community Music; an organization which acts as a think-tank on issues involving community music and musicians throughout the Americas.  Additional affiliations include the League of American Orchestras and the Conductors Guild.

Mr. Mendoza did his Undergraduate studies at Butler University in Indianapolis with acclaimed choral director Henry Leck, and served as an intern conductor with the world-renowned Indianapolis Children's Choir.  Mendoza completed his Graduate studies in conducting at the University of New Mexico, where he worked with composer/conductor Bradley Ellingboe. Javier graduated with distinction, receiving the Master of Music Degree.  While in New Mexico, he was apprentice conductor to Roger Melone, Resident Conductor of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and continues to utilize his resources from New Mexico to advance his advocacy of Latin American Community Music.

Mendoza in the news

Classic Act: Looking at Javier Mendoza

Playing to the Cheap Seats

Mendoza Heads for Academia Musicale

The Classical Conundrum

Mutual Inspiration : Conductor, Youth Orchestra Spark Each Other's Passion for Music

New Conductor Chosen for Metropolis Youth Symphony