Praised as “thrilling,” “world-class,” and “inspirational,” Portuguese-American conductor and producer Jacomo Bairos has built one of the most diverse and wide-ranging careers in music today — spanning symphonic masterworks with the world’s great orchestras and cross-genre collaborations with some of the most celebrated musical icons of our time. As Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Nu Deco Ensemble, called “sonically spellbinding” by Billboard, Bairos continues to redefine what an orchestra can achieve — while remaining equally in demand with the leading classical institutions across North America and Europe.
With Nu Deco, Bairos has collaborated with Grammy-winning artists including Wyclef Jean, Angelique Kidjo, Jacob Collier, PJ Morton, Robert Glasper, Bilal, Cory Wong, Richard Bona, Derrick Hodge, Stephen Marley, and Tank and the Bangas, to name a few. Beyond Nu Deco, his collaborations extend to acclaimed figures across genres — from Jon Batiste, Andrew Bird, Ben Folds, and Faye Webster to leading classical voices including J’Nai Bridges, Anthony McGill, Courtney Bryan, Jennifer Koh, Will Liverman, Valerie Coleman, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, and Bryce Dessner.
A fixture on the podiums of major orchestras, Bairos has led the San Francisco, St. Louis, National, Detroit, Iceland, Singapore, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Houston Symphonies, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Chicago and Malaysia Philharmonics, and the Boston and Cincinnati Pops. A long-standing relationship with Europe’s Metropole Orkest has yielded numerous recordings, collaborative performances, and extensive tours across Europe. Current season highlights include his London debut with Britten Sinfonia at the Barbican, and debuts with the Colorado Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony, and the National Philharmonic.
His discography also includes recordings with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and an ongoing collaboration with the Metropole Orkest, with whom he will release two additional albums in 2026 featuring jazz vocalist Tutu Puoane and pianist-composer VÃtor Araújo.
Deeply committed to music education and wellness, Bairos leads Nu Deco NXT — the ensemble’s youth orchestra — serving as both its artistic and wellness director, integrating mindfulness practices and wellness tools into the fabric of their training and artistic growth. His commitment to nurturing young musicians extends globally, with multiple collaborations and tours alongside Jong Metropole and partnerships with the Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa.
During his eight seasons as Music Director of the Amarillo Symphony (2013–2021), Bairos worked collaboratively with musicians, administration, and board leadership to elevate artistic standards and strengthen institutional vitality — launching the orchestra’s first composer residencies, pioneering education and community initiatives, premiering over twenty new works, selling out performances and subscription series, and building sustained organizational momentum grounded in shared vision, dynamic programming, and community leadership.
A Juilliard-trained tubist, Bairos performed, recorded, and toured internationally with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony, and served as Principal Tuba of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (2004–2007). He later studied conducting at the Peabody Institute with Gustav Meier and Marin Alsop, and at the Aspen Music Festival under Robert Spano, with additional mentorship from Kurt Masur, Jorma Panula, and Larry Rachleff.
Bairos is the host of Nu Deco Unfiltered, a podcast featuring conversations with dynamic musical artists, trailblazing composers, and forward-thinking industry leaders. A certified yoga teacher, meditation coach, and breathwork facilitator, he is deeply committed to equipping young musicians with the mindfulness skills and wellness practices that support both their artistry and their lives. He divides his time between Miami Beach, Florida, and Lisbon, Portugal.