Widely regarded as a leading ensemble and musical institution in Mexico, the Minería Symphony Orchestra of Mexico remains at the musical forefront through eclectic programming, collaborations with renowned soloists and composers, and staunch advocacy of community and educational development. Founded in the 1970s, the Minería Symphony Orchestra boasts a legacy of excellence that attracts leading international conductors and artists including León Spierer, Peter Maag, Carmen Moral, Nicanor Zabaleta, Renata Scotto, Maxim Shostakovich, Philippe Quint, and more, solidifying its goal of providing a platform to showcase the highest caliber of national artistry.

Carlos Miguel Prieto—recognized as the leading Mexican conductor of his generation—is characterized by his dynamism and the expressivity of his interpretations. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard universities, Carlos Miguel Prieto studied conducting with Jorge Mester, Enrique Diemecke, Charles Bruck, and Michael Jinbo. Celebrated as a rising star both domestically and abroad, he is in demand as a guest conductor, appearing with elite orchestras that include the Chicago, Cleveland, Seattle, Oregon, Toronto, and Vancouver symphony orchestras. He was Musical America’s Conductor of the Year in 2019, and his extensive discography includes releases on the Naxos and Sony labels. A passionate supporter of music education, Mr. Prieto serves as Music Director of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, a world-class symphony orchestra of one hundred musical leaders, ages eighteen to thirty, representing twenty-five countries of the Western Hemisphere. He previously served as principal conductor of the organization from its inception in 2001. Prieto also serves as the Music Director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra since 2006, aiding in the cultural renewal of New Orleans following hurricane Katrina. In 2021, Prieto was appointed as Artistic Advisor for the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra.

The Minería Symphony Orchestra advocates for the music of our time, cultivating new works through composer collaborations that regularly share the stage with canonical composers from Beethoven and Brahms to Takemitsu and beyond. Their domestic efforts regularly support Mexican composers, resulting in world-premieres by composers Gabriela Ortiz, Carlos Sánchez Gutiérrez, Luis Herrera de la Fuente, Manuel Enriquez, and many more. Recording activities are common-ground for Minería, and in 2010, under the baton of Carlos Miguel Prieto, they recorded works by the Austrian composer Erich Korngold for the Naxos label, incorporating Korngold’s Violin Concerto with soloist Philippe Quint. The recording received two Grammy nominations, including in the "Best Solo Performance with Orchestra" category. Recent recordings include a highly acclaimed CD for Cedille featuring Carlos Chavez’s Piano Concerto with pianist Jorge Federico Osorio, and a CD for Avantclassic featuring works by Bruch, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn. In celebration of their thirty-fifth anniversary, Minería released a twelve-DVD set of live recordings of the complete symphonies of Gustav Mahler.

Carlos Miguel Prieto is preceded by three influential directors. In 1978, the Minería Symphony Orchestra was founded by Jorge Velazco with the support of over one hundred founding members. Luis Herrera de la Fuente furthered the institution from 1985 to 1995, hosting important guest conductors such as Peter Maag and Carmen Moral, and a number of decorated international soloists. Velazco returned to bring Minería through the turn of the century, and German conductor Carlos Spierer led them from 2003 to 2005. Amongst their many accolades, Minería received the Las Lunas Award from the National Auditorium for “Best Classical Show,” and in 2016, their musical contributions were recognized further by the Legislative Assembly of Mexico City, which bestowed the Medal of Merit in Sciences and Arts for their “great career and contributions to the culture of Mexico.”