Felix Torres is Co-Chair of the Wright Torres Foundation, Music & Artistic Director of the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra, Executive & Artistic Director of the East Texas Youth Orchestra, and Artistic Director of the Texas Institute for Orchestral Studies.
Since his appointment with the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra in 2018, they have achieved growth in all areas. There has been an increase in revenue over 70%, audience attendance has increased by approximately 60%, and membership in the orchestra has also increased: 8% in 18/19 and a 22% increase for the start of the 19/20 season.
With ETYO, the organization completed its first international tour to Vienna, Austria, and continues to expand its services to reach even more young musicians across East Texas including the return of the Preparatory orchestra, the creation of the Junior Jazz and Saxophone ensembles, and plans for future ensembles and educational offerings.
Previously, Felix was the Apprentice Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra from 2012–2014. Working closely with Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya, he conducted the FWSO in neighborhood and youth education performances, as well as assisting Harth-Bedoya, and guest conductors, in subscription concerts at Bass Performance Hall during the 2013–2014 season. Felix has worked with various youth orchestras in both Texas and Illinois, including the Fort Worth Youth Orchestras.
Felix holds a Bachelor of Music Education (2006), a Master of Music in Wind Conducting (2012), and a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting (2014) degrees from Texas Christian University. At TCU, Mr. Torres was a Graduate Conductor with the TCU Bands and Assistant Conductor of the TCU Symphony Orchestra. Felix made his international conducting debut with the TCU Symphony Orchestra on their tour of Argentina in the Spring of 2013. He studied orchestral conducting with Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Germán Gutierrez; wind conducting with Bobby Francis; and choral conducting with Dennis Shrock and Ron Shirey.
In addition to his other roles, Felix is Co-Founder & Artistic Director of the Texas Institute for Orchestral Studies – dedicated to training the next generation of orchestral musicians, Associate Director and Director of Admissions of The Conducting Institute – dedicated to training the next generation of orchestral conductors, and Managing Director of FILARMONIKA Music Publishing – dedicated to the promotion and performance of music from Latin America & the Caribbean.
Felix and his wife, Lacey, started the Wright Torres Foundation in 2019 as a way to give back to the areas which have provided them with so much fulfillment: animals, mental health, and music. Felix & Lacey split their time between North & East Texas, with their daughter and three dogs.