Biography

Elias Salazar is a dynamic Venezuelan American conductor and educator residing in Nashville, Tennessee. Known for his "precision, clarity, energy, and passion" on the podium and his "relentless commitment to music education," Salazar has made a significant impact in the Nashville music community for over a decade. 

Salazar recently served a five-season tenure as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Trevecca Symphony Orchestra and a season as Music Director of the Belmont University Opera. ​During his time with the Trevecca Symphony, Salazar led initiatives to create exciting concert experiences both for the audience and the orchestra's members by programming orchestral masterworks with contemporary works and music from all around the world. Elias made it a priority to modernize the orchestra and to expand its reach by enhancing its community presence and education efforts. Salazar began the symphony's first composition competition and began the orchestra's first series of pre-concert talks where audience members got to hear from composers and soloists and gain valuable insight into the works they were about to hear and about the orchestra's preparation process.

In 2024, Salazar completed a 10-year tenure as the Director of Choral and Orchestral Music at Ensworth School, where he also founded and directed the School of Music. In this role, he directed two vocal groups and the orchestra, developed and taught various academic music courses, and served as the music director for all of the musical theater productions. Salazar also created and led summer intensives in vocal arts and songwriting. His innovative approach and philosophy have enhanced the school’s music program significantly and have developed an internationally recognized music program which blends contemporary and traditional music across the curriculum. 

Salazar’s professional affiliations and leadership roles include his current role on the Board of Directors of the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra as well as previous roles serving as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for Contemporary Music for the Tennessee American Choral Directors Association and as a member of the Leadership and Action Council for the  Nashville Singers. He also served  a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the Gateway Chamber Orchestra.

His experience further includes a two-season tenure as Conducting Fellow of the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra as well as founding and directing the Nashville Collegiate Orchestra. On several occasions, he has also guest-conducted the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra (previously named the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra) and Chorus and various ensembles at Belmont University, such as the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber String Orchestra, Opera Theatre, Concert Band, Women’s Choir, and Chamber Singers. Elias is currently a vocalist with the acclaimed Portara Ensemble which has been featured at the 2017, 2018, and 2023 CMA Awards and the 2018 CMA Country Christmas program, performing alongside numerous GRAMMY-winning artists.   

Salazar’s earlier roles include Interim Music Director for the Music City Youth Orchestra, where he led the top ensemble in rehearsals and performances throughout the 2013-2014 season. Salazar has also conducted studio orchestras for several independent short films and served several seasons as principal conductor for the Nashville Cinematic Symphony, which specialized in performing and recording film music.

A distinguished graduate of Belmont University, Salazar double-majored in Music Education with choral and instrumental emphases and in Classical Performance with a trumpet emphasis. He studied conducting under Drs. Jeffery Ames, Robert Gregg, Barry Kraus, and Jane Warren, and trumpet with Dr. Joel Treybig. Upon graduating from Belmont, Elias studied conducting with Kelly Corcoran, former Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony and Music Director of the Nashville Symphony Chorus and current Artistic Director of Intersection. Throughout his conducting fellowship with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra and beyond, Elias has also been mentored in conducting by Dr. Christopher Norton. 

A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Elias has a profound love for Latin American music and hopes to continue to bring attention to the rich and exciting music that comes from his homeland. Among several initiatives to this end in his orchestral and choral conducting roles, Salazar was also the lead trumpet player and vocalist for the Nashville Salsa Collective, an 8-piece Latin band, from 2014 to 2016.

Salazar's passion for conducting, performing, and teaching drives him to continually strive for excellence in his technique, preparation, interpretation, and performances. His dream is to provide world-class concert experiences and to inspire audiences worldwide through thrilling performances and community education initiatives.