Our Artistic Director

Dr. Marcelo Urias is a quintessential musician with a profusion of remarkable accomplishments as a conductor and pianist. He currently holds the position of artistic director of The Oak Ridge Philharmonia, in East Tennessee. Through innovative and creative programming, Marcelo has led this orchestra to new heights of artistic excellence and public recognition. During his tenure, the Philharmonia has seen an astonishing increase in its audience and revenue. His guest conducting has taken him abroad in several occasions. He appeared with major symphony orchestras in Brazil, including the Parana State Symphony, the Londrina State University and the Ponta Grossa chamber and symphony orchestras. In Europe Marcelo was a guest conductor with the Rousse Philharmonic in Bulgaria.

His collaborations with soloists of international standing include pianist Eudoxia de Barros, Jean Laurendeau, Brazilian soprano legend Neyde Thomas, American soprano Jami Rogers, pianists Andrea Baiocchi and Wei-Chun Lo, among many others. In opera, Marcelo has built his repertoire with La Boheme (2017), a production of Don Giovanni in 2018, and upcoming performances of Turandot in Bulgaria.

Marcelo holds Master and Doctoral degrees in Choral Conducting from the world-renowned Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. His dissertation focused on sacred works by Brazilian composer Osvaldo Lacerda. While at Indiana Marcelo served as an Assistant to the Chairman and also led memorable concerts with University Singers, IU’s premier ensemble and the University Chorale. When Marcelo served for two years as Chorus Master to the Indiana University Opera Department, he prepared choruses for several productions, including editing the choral score for the American premiere of the opera Jeppe, by Swedish composer Sven-David Saundstrom. In Indiana, Marcelo was also the Assistant Conductor to maestros Gerry Sousa of the Bloomington Chamber Singers and Raymond Leppard of Apolo’s Voice, respectively, assisting in the preparation of the world-premiere of Cary Boyce's oratorio Dreams and concerts with world-renowned soprano Sylvia McNair.

Amongst Marcelo's most significant piano and conducting mentors are the late Brazilian pianist Henriqueta Duarte, and Maestro Dr. Jan Harrington. He won numerous piano competitions in Brazil and has given many solo recitals, chamber concerts besides appearances with orchestra. His pianistic passion and expertise has led to a seven year long research of piano construction and development, resulting in a new global piano brand, the EMMENFELD, launched internationally in October 2019. Upon the launch of the Emmenfeld piano, Marcelo and his wife Margareth, also an accomplished pianist, played several piano recitals in Shanghai and Qingdao, China.