“A sonically spell-binding experience”
— Billboard
“A chamber orchestra for the 21st century”
— The New York Times
“Fiery, captivating, and refreshingly original”
— Saratoga Living
Praised as “thrilling,” “world-class,” and “inspirational,” Portuguese-American conductor and producer Jacomo Bairos is celebrated for his innovative approach, electrifying artistry, and visionary programming that is redefining the modern orchestral experience. With a career spanning symphonic masterworks, cross-genre collaborations, and acclaimed recordings with Grammy-winning artists and the world’s foremost orchestras, Bairos unites tradition and innovation in ways that resonate deeply with today’s audiences.
As Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Nu Deco Ensemble, Miami’s “orchestra for the 21st century” (The New York Times), Bairos has collaborated with Grammy-winning icons including Wyclef Jean, Angelique Kidjo, Jacob Collier, PJ Morton, Robert Glasper, Macy Gray, Bilal, Cory Wong, Richard Bona, Stephen Marley, and Tank and the Bangas, while commissioning new works from artists such as Kishi Bashi, Derrick Hodge, Valerie Coleman, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson. Beyond Nu Deco, his collaborations extend to acclaimed figures across genres, from Jon Batiste, Andrew Bird, Ben Folds, and Faye Webster to leading classical voices including J’Nai Bridges, Anthony McGill, Courtney Bryan, and Will Liverman, with whom he has performed, commissioned, and premiered new works.
In demand with the world’s great symphony orchestras, Bairos has led the San Francisco, St. Louis, Singapore, National, Detroit, Iceland, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Houston Symphonies; the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; the Chicago and Malaysia Philharmonics; and the Boston and Cincinnati Pops. Highlights of the 2025–26 season include debuts with the Colorado Symphony, National and the Central Texas Philharmonics, alongside return engagements with the Baltimore, Atlanta, and Sun Valley Symphonies, the Boca Symphonia, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic.
Described as “sonically spellbinding” by Billboard, Nu Deco Ensemble has redefined the orchestra’s role through imaginative, immersive performances, transformative collaborations, and deep-rooted community engagement in Miami. Under Bairos’ co-leadership, the ensemble has released 15 albums—including Duende (Sony Masterworks) and the Billboard-charting Paint the Roses with Larkin Poe—with its recordings and digital content amassing millions of streams and reaching audiences worldwide. His discography also includes recordings with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and an ongoing collaboration with Europe’s genre-bending Metropole Orkest, with whom he has toured extensively and will release two additional albums in 2025–26 featuring jazz vocalist Tutu Puoane and pianist-composer Vítor Araújo.
Cultivating the next generation of artists lies at the core of Bairos’ mission. As an advocate for youth engagement, he leads Nu Deco NXT, the ensemble’s youth orchestra, incorporating mindfulness and wellness practices into their artistic development. His commitment to nurturing young musicians extends worldwide, including tours and festivals with Jong Metropole and collaborations with the Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa.
During his tenure as Music Director of the Amarillo Symphony (2013–2021), Bairos led the organization through unprecedented artistic and fiscal growth while deepening its community impact. He established composer residencies, launched young composer initiatives with WT–A&M, commissioned 17 new works, and created accessible outreach programs such as Class Act, Symphony Kids, the highly successful Happy Holiday Pops series, and the annual Symphony at Hodgetown Park concerts that drew thousands—fostering connection and community throughout the Texas Panhandle.
A Juilliard-trained tuba player, Bairos performed, recorded, and toured internationally with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, and served as Principal Tuba of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (2004–2007). He later studied conducting at the Peabody Institute with Gustav Meier and Marin Alsop, and at the Aspen Music Festival under his mentor Robert Spano, with additional mentorship from Kurt Masur and Larry Rachleff.
Bairos is host of Nu Deco Unfiltered, a podcast dedicated to inspiring conversations with dynamic musical artists, trailblazing composers, and forward-thinking industry leaders. A 200-hour certified yoga teacher, Chopra-certified meditation coach, and breathwork practitioner, Bairos believes in the power of inner transformation through daily practices, which he shares with young musicians of Nu Deco NXT as part of their artistic and personal development. He now divides his time between Miami Beach, Florida, and Lisbon, Portugal, continually seeking new ways to inspire and connect through music.