With over three decades as a professional musician, Juan Sebastián has forged a distinguished international career as an instrumentalist and, more recently, as an educator and conductor. His dynamic leadership has guided diverse ensembles across different countries, including the Tokyo Sinfonia, the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, the Kamerata Kuala Lumpur, the ‘Tilcara Canta’ choir in Argentina, and the Symphonic Band of the Conservatory at the National University of Colombia, among others.

His concentrated training in conducting includes three semesters at the National University of Colombia, the attainment of the Diploma and Licentiate in Orchestra Conducting from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), and masterclasses under renowned maestros in Finland, Japan, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, and his native Colombia.

Juan Sebastián has refined his technique through masterclasses and studies with distinguished conductors such as Jorma Panula, Robert Ryker, Mark Shapiro, Luis Gorelik, Fabio Mechetti, Nestor Zadoff, Harish Shankar, Boon Hua Lien, and John Landor, among others.

This dynamic conducting expertise is built upon a bedrock of extensive orchestral experience. As an orchestral musician, Juan Sebastián successfully auditioned for over ten professional orchestras, serving as Principal Viola with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia and the Sun Symphony Orchestra in Vietnam. His tenure as a section musician includes positions with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra in Brazil, alongside guest performances with the Symphony Orchestra of Castilla y León in Spain, among others.

In the academic sphere, he has contributed significantly as an Adjunct Lecturer at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur and, through a competitive appointment, as the Program Leader for Music Education Enhancement with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He is also a co-founder of the Juliette Music and Arts Academy in Malaysia, where he develops a robust educational programme and curates a diverse, active recital series.

Currently, Juan Sebastián is further honing his craft by pursuing a master’s degree in Orchestra Conducting at Almería University, Spain. Under the mentorship of Robert Ryker, he continues his association with the Tokyo Sinfonia as an invited Assistant Conductor. Most recently, he was invited to conduct, perform as a soloist, and offer a viola masterclass at Cedarville University in Ohio, marking the latest chapter in a vibrant and ongoing musical journey.