Rafael Payare gained worldwide recognition in May 2012 as the winner of the Malko International Conducting Competition in Copenhagen. Since he began his formal conducting studies in 2004 with José Antonio Abreu, Rafael has developed a flourishing career, having conducted all the major orchestras in Venezuela including the Simón Bolívar Orchestra both in Caracas and in Toronto as part of their 2009 Canadian tour. The young artiste, who will conduct the SOI for the first time, talks to SUNDAY MiD DAY about his journey:

Rafael Payare claims that he wants to offer a large variety of “so-called” Western or classical music to Indian audiences