Fernanda Lastra

Fernanda Lastra, recipient of the prestigious CAREER ADVANCE AWARD at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Women in Classical Music Symposium, is serving as Assistant Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the tutelage of JoAnn Falletta, a position that will conclude in August 2025. Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Fernanda Lastra is a passionate and creative conductor, recognized for her artistic leadership, creativity, and expressiveness on stage.

Committed to including a wide variety of composers in concert programs, Fernanda Lastra is a champion of Latin American composers, particularly Argentinian composers. She is also dedicated to creating balanced and engaging programs that enhance the overall concert experience. She is also passionate about topics related to audience development, music education, and the inclusion of the orchestra in the community, as she believes in the transformative power of music to unite, heal, and develop emotional intelligence.

In 2022, Lastra was appointed Conductor Fellow at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Just one year later, in 2023, she was promoted to Assistant Conductor, with a one-year contract extension. In this position, she serves as Assistant Conductor, Relief Conductor, and Principal Conductor for the Family Kids Series, the Music for Youth concerts (educational concerts), and numerous summer season concerts in various parks throughout the city. Lastra also serves on the BPO's Artistic Staff, the Music Education Committee, and the Diversity Council, among other responsibilities.

In addition to her leadership role with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Lastra regularly collaborates as a guest conductor with professional and youth orchestras. Throughout her career, she has conducted distinguished orchestras, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, and the South Bend Symphony. and has served as cover conductor with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Symphony Orchestra, among others.

As assistant and cover conductor, Fernanda Lastra has worked alongside renowned conductors such as JoAnn Falletta, Edward Gardner, Giancarlo Guerrero, Maximiano Valdés, Gerard Schwarz, Mei-Ann Chen, and Joseph Caballé-Domenech, among others. Additionally, she has collaborated with artists such as Aida Cuevas, Jay White, Jeans'n Classics, Michael Grandinetti, and Troupe Vertigo, in pop concerts and specials. In May 2025, Lastra made her Buffalo Philharmonic debut in the Classical Series with pianist Avery Gagliano.

Concert highlights of her 2025-2026 season include guest conducting with the Great Falls Symphony, the Portland Symphony, and the Tucson Symphony. Lastra will also conduct approximately 10 concerts with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2025 summer season.

Fernanda is represented by Halac Artists in Spain, Portugal and Latin America in collaboration worldmanager Wiebke Küster of Pura Musica.