Conductor
Fernanda Lastra holds the position of Assistant Conductor, Diversity Fellow for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, under the mentorship of JoAnn Falletta. Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Lastra is a passionate and creative conductor recognized for her artistic leadership and engaging performances.
Committed to featuring diverse voices in concert halls, Lastra is an advocate for Latin American composers, particularly those from Argentina. She is equally dedicated to creating well-balanced and diverse programs that enhance the overall concert experience. In addition, she is passionate about community engagement and music education, believing in the transformative power of music to unite, heal, and develop emotional intelligence.
In 2022, Lastra was appointed Conductor Diversity Fellow at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and was promoted in 2023, accompanied by a one-year contract extension. In this role she serves as assistant conductor, cover conductor, and main conductor for the BPO Family Kids series, Music for Youth concerts, and community engagement performances. Lastra also serves as a member of the BPO’s artistic team, the BPO's music education committee and the BPO’s Diversity Council, among other responsibilities.
As an assistant and cover conductor, Lastra has worked alongside esteemed conductors such as JoAnn Falletta, Giancarlo Guerrero, Maximiano Valdés, Gerard Schwarz, Mei-Ann Chen, Joseph Caballé-Domenech, and Michael Francis, among others. Additionally, she has collaborated with artists such as Aida Cuevas, Jay White, Jeans’n Classics, and Michael Grandinetti for Pops and special concerts. In May 2025, Lastra is scheduled to make her debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic in the classic series featuring pianist Avery Gagliano.
Apart from her leadership role with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Lastra regularly collaborates as a guest conductor with professional and youth orchestras. Past performances have involved engagements with the Walla Walla Symphony as a music director candidate, The Birch Festival, where she collaborated with musicians from the Boston Symphony, and the Pacific Conservatory of Music. Upcoming collaborations include engagements with the South Bend Symphony, the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Minnesota Orchestra.
In 2023, Fernanda Lastra received a prestigious recognition from Argentina's National Classical Radio at their annual "Premios Nacional Clásica." In November 2024, she will be presented with the "Career Advancement Award" at the Women in Classical Music Symposium held by the Dallas Symphony.
