Panama, September 30, 2025. - At a press conference the Ministry of Culture officially opened the minutes with the results of the public contest for the selection of the new Titular Director of the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama (OSN), following Resolution 167-2025 and following a transparent and high artistic rigour.

Following an assessment of academic merits, artistic trajectory, practice and personal interviews with the Orchestra, the Jury Committee declared the contest as desert, as they did not achieve any of the required scores for their designation.

Consequently, and as currently established, the Ministry of Culture will open a new public competition in 2026 to ensure that the National Symphony Orchestra has a profile of artistic excellence and international leadership.

Meanwhile, and to ensure the continuity of artistic and administrative work, master Ricardo Risco, currently deputy director of the National Symphony Orchestra, will be held as his director.

The minutes were read by the deputy ministers of culture and ministers with responsibility, Arianne Benedetti, accompanied by the national director of the arts, Gianni Bianchini, who emphasized the importance of this historic process that strengthens cultural institution and transparency in public management.

With more than 80 years of experience, the National Symphony Orchestra forms a pillar of Panamanian cultural identity and a pride for the country. That process reaffirms the commitment of the Ministry of Culture to consolidate our artistic institutions, to promote national talent and to project Panama's musical wealth in international scenarios.

Retiring Jury Profiles

César Leal - Director of Orchestra, Musicologist and Pedagogo

Maestro César Leal () is an American conductor, musicologist and paedagogue with an international trajectory that combines academic and artistic excellence. He currently works as Director of Orquast Activities and Professor of Musicology at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania, USA. He was formed at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá, Florida International University and University of Kentucky and his doctoral degree at the Spanish Civil and Cultural Institute at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University and at the Spanish Institute of Music and at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University. He was an orchestrated at his national and at the Spanish University at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University and at the Spanish University.

Graciela "Chelín" Núñez - Violinist, Pedagogue and Research

Graciela Núñez, known artificially as "Chelín," is an outstanding Panamanian violinist with more than 30 years of track record in classical and popular music. He began his studies at his home with his father, Gonzalo Núñez, and later continued with teachers such as Adriano Vásquez and José Antonio Escobar. He obtained his master's degree at Violín at University of Kansas in 1996 and his master's degree in interpretation and training at the Northern Illinois University. He has been a member of his National Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra at his international level and his work as a co-operative at his national level with his and his international and his association with his work at the University of his international and his work as a leading teacher's and his leading and his leading with his leading his leading and his leading and his leading his leading and his leading his leading and leading his leading and leading his leading his leading and his leading with his leading with his leading his leading with his international and his leading his leading and his leading and his leading and his leading artists.

Nataliia Stets - Director of Orchestra

Nataliia Stets is a Ukrainian orchestra director recognised for his accuracy, refinement and sensitivities. Currently, she's a musical director of the Kyiv Philharmonic, an institution from where she projects her artistic vision at an international level. Her career has led her to leading important groupings such as Duisburger Philharmonier in Germany, the Konzerthaus of Berlin, the Elband-Philharmonic Sachsen and the LvidMozArt Festival in Ukraine. She became the first leading woman at the international level to gain recognition at this stage of the Spanish Music Foundation and supported her leading his leading role as a leading singer at this international level.