Tomás García, conductor of the Symphonic Orchestra, is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting at Rutgers University. He holds a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting from Penn State and degrees in Composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Houston. As an educator, he serves as Children’s Music Director of First Congregational Church of Westfield, has guest conducted the New Brunswick All-City Festival, and regularly works with youth and high school orchestras as a clinician. As a performing musician, he has collaborated with a wide range of ensembles in both symphonic and operatic settings. Tomás is the Assistant Conductor of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Modus Operandi Orchestra (New York). He has also served as assistant conductor with the Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia (Spain), Opera Neo (San Diego), Chicago Summer Opera, and Penn’s Woods Music Festival. He has conducted productions of Don Giovanni and Carmen with Rutgers Opera Theater, and has served as assistant conductor for productions including the Princeton Festival’s Madama Butterfly (also as chorusmaster), and Rossini’s Il turco in Italia, among others. Tomás’ mentors include Kynan Johns and Gerardo Edelstein, and he has worked in masterclass settings with conductors including Carl St. Clair and Donald Schleicher. Mr. Garcia joined the staff of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey in 2026.