Distinguished Conductor
Fernanda Lastra
Penn State College of Arts and Architecture alumna and orchestral conductor Fernanda Lastra will serve as the speaker for the college’s spring 2026 undergraduate commencement ceremony, to take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Eisenhower Auditorium.
Lastra, who earned a master’s degree in orchestral conducting at Penn State in 2018, will engage in a public conversation with B. Stephen Carpenter II, Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Dean in the College of Arts and Architecture, at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 8, in the Stuckeman Family Building Jury Space. The event, co-hosted by the College of the Liberal Arts, is part of the “Onward and Upward: Conversations with Commencement Speakers” series launched by the College of Arts and Architecture in 2022. The public conversation will be livestreamed at arts.psu.edu/fernanda (in advance of the event, this URL will connect to a Zoom webcast).
Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Fernanda Lastra is a passionate and imaginative conductor known for her artistic leadership and captivating performances. Deeply committed to making orchestral music engaging and meaningful for audiences of all ages, she develops programs that spark curiosity, foster connection, and expand the concert experience. Equally dedicated to building connections within the community, Lastra strives to create a vibrant musical legacy for future generations, guided by her belief in the power of music to unite, heal, and nurture emotional intelligence. She is also a devoted advocate for Latin American composers, with a special focus on preserving and promoting Argentina’s rich musical heritage.
From September 2022 to August 2025, Lastra served as Assistant Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the mentorship of JoAnn Falletta. In this role, she assisted and covered the orchestra’s full season of classical, pops, and special programs, while also leading performances as principal conductor for the Family Kids Series, Music for Youth concerts, community engagement events, and summer concerts. In addition, she contributed to the orchestra’s Artistic Team by developing innovative educational and outreach programs, and she was an active member of both the Music Education Committee and the Diversity Council. In May 2025, Lastra made her debut in the BPO’s Classics Series, conducting a program featuring pianist Avery Gagliano.
As assistant and cover conductor, Lastra has collaborated with distinguished conductors including JoAnn Falletta, Edward Gardner, Giancarlo Guerrero, Maximiano Valdés, Eckart Preu, and Josep Caballé‑Domenech, among others. She has also worked with guest artists such as Aida Cuevas, Jay White, Jeans ’n Classics, Michael Grandinetti, and Troupe Vertigo in Pops and special programs.
Today, Fernanda Lastra appears regularly as a guest conductor with professional and youth orchestras across the United States and abroad. In March 2026, she will make her first appearance with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, followed by her Mexico debut with the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (OFUNAM) in Mexico City, and her Chile debut in June with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Chile in Santiago. Recent U.S. engagements include collaborations with the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, as well as work as a cover conductor with the Minnesota Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. Through her dynamic presence on and off the podium, Lastra continues to inspire audiences and musicians alike, fostering connection through vibrant and expressive performances.