Nu Deco Ensemble featuring Emily King and Durand Jones

Described in the press as “thrilling,” “inspirational,” and “world-class,” Portuguese-American conductor, producer, and podcast host Jacomo Bairos challenges the preconceptions of orchestral repertoire by fusing musical genres and integrating the orchestra into the worldwide community through innovative and dynamic ways.

Defined by eclectic programming, genre-bending collaborations, artistic excellence, community, and institution building, as well as education initiatives infused with mindful and wellness practices, Bairos as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Nu Deco Ensemble has reframed the role an artistic leader can hold for its organization and community it serves.

Annually in demand with some of the world’s great orchestral institutions, Bairos collaborates with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, the San Francisco, Atlanta, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras, to name a few. Bairos works closely with today’s most prolific and inspiring Grammy and award-winning soloists in classical music, such as J’Nai Bridges and Conrad Tao, as well as contemporary music artists such as Wyclef Jean, Jacob Collier, PJ Morton, Jon Batiste, and Angélique Kidjo amongst others.

A graduate of The Juilliard School and Peabody Institute, Bairos has performed, recorded, and toured the world with the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, and the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops.

A Chopra certified meditation teacher, Bairos teaches mindfulness practices, yoga, and guides meditations for the youth members of Nu Deco NXT. He makes his home on Miami Beach, with his Carolina dog, Sophie.

Sam Hyken has had a rich and diverse musical career, which has spanned the globe. Currently residing in Miami, Florida, he is in constant demand as a performer, producer, arranger, and composer. Along with Jacomo Bairos, he is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Nu Deco Ensemble, Miami’s Genre-Bending Orchestra. He also serves as C.E.O of the organization.

As a musical arranger and director, Sam has been contracted by various artists, producers, and ensembles to adapt and write new music for, including Bad Bunny at the 20th Annual Latin Grammys, Wyclef Jean, Pitbull, Robert Glasper, PJ Morton, Jacob Collier, Cynthia Erivo, Cory Wong, Macy Gray, Tank and the Bangas, Angelique Kidjo, Cory Henry, Kimbra, Larkin Poe, Jose James, Talib Kweli, Ben Folds, BJ the Chicago Kid, Rev Run, Cimafunk, Tuneyards, Jon Baptiste, Bilal, Luke James, Kishi Bashi, Emily King, Stephen Marley, Kishi Bashi, Richard Bona, Monsieur Perine, Chris Turner, Aaron Parks, Black Violin, Time for Three, Alternative Routes, Dirty Vegas, Scary Pool Party, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Danay Suarez, Steven A. Clark, Project Trio, Rico Love, Raquel Sofia, Leroy Sanchez, Jim Jonsin, and Spam All-Stars

As a composer, Sam’s music has been commissioned by several symphony orchestras and organizations, such as the New World Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra, Adrienne Arsht Center, Kansas City Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Asheville Symphony, and the Miami Symphony Orchestra. Other ensembles that have performed Sam’s work include the Boston Pops, San Francisco Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, Oregon Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolivar of Venezuela. From 2011-2015, Sam was Composer-in-Residence with the Miami Symphony Orchestra.

Sam held the position of associate principal trumpet of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra from 2004-2006. From 2006-2009, he was a member of the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. Sam was a member of the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra and the UBS Verbier Chamber Orchestra for 5 years touring and performing with such esteemed conductors as James Levine, Loren Maazel, Valerie Gergiev, Kurt Masur, Yuri Temirakanov, Christoph Donyani, and Charles Dutoit.

Sam holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School in New York City, a post-graduate diploma with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in London, and a Master’s degree in Media Writing and Production from the University of Miami. In 2016, Sam was awarded the title of Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.