Conductor Jorge Rivero Tirado Passes Away During Rehearsal

Rivero Tirado spent 13 years as oboist and guest conductor of the Jalisco Philharmonic

The 74-year-old conductor and oboist Jorge Rivero Tirado has passed away, after he suffered a heart attack while leading a rehearsal at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara, Mexico. Rivero Tirado was guest conductor of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra and was preparing the ensemble for its upcoming Spring Serenades series.

Paramedics were immediately called to the rehearsal, but they were unable to revive Rivero Tirado, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Born in Cuba in 1952, Rivero Tirado trained as an oboist at the National Art School (ENA) in Havana, where his teachers were Todor Stalev, Georgui Zhelianov, and Lido Guarnieri. He then continued his studies with Claude Mainsonneuve in Paris, where he won several awards — including the Excellence of the Rueil Malmaison Conservatoire.

Rivero Tirado's oboe playing was internationally renowned. He won First Prize for Oboe at the Havana National Music Competition as well as the Virtuoso Award for the best album in the Concert Music category.

"We regret the death of maestro Jorge Rivero Tirado, outstanding oboist, conductor and member of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra," the government of Jalisco said in a statement. "Our solidarity for his family, friends and for the entire musical and cultural community."

"My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Jorge Rivero Tirado, extraordinary musician and orchestra director, who was part of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra for 13 years and who leaves a deep mark on the musical and cultural community of the state," said Enrique Alfaro, the governor of Jalisco.