Cláudio Cruz is the Principal Conductor and Musical Director of the São Paulo State Youth Symphony. He has performed as guest conductor with many Brazilian orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony (Osesp) and the Brazilian Symphony. He has also conducted in other countries, collaborating with the Sinfonia Varsovia, New Japan Philharmonic, Hyogo PAC Orchestra, Hiroshima Symphony, among others. In festivals, the Carinthian Summer Music Festival (Austria) and the International Cartagena Music Festival (Colombia) are current highlights. His discography includes three albums with Villa-Lobos Chamber Orchestra, one of them dedicated to the music of Brazilian composer Edino Krieger. An album recorded with the Northern Sinfonia and Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses featuring compositions by Elgar and Gál received a Grammy nomination. A distinguished violinist, Cláudio was the concertmaster of Osesp from 1990 to 2014.