Hector Ponce

A native of San Jose, California, Hector Ponce is a third-year Bass Fellow at the New World Symphony. His recent orchestral performances include appearances at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, as well as Spoleto Festival U.S.A. in Charleston, SC. Previous festival engagements include Music Academy of the West and the National Arts Centre Orchestra Mentorship Program. He has had the privilege of working with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Klaus Mäkelä, Sir Antonio Pappano, Zubin Mehta, Daniele Gatti, Lahav Shani and Giandrea Noseda.

Hector has performed as a member of the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico, an initiative founded by Emilio Colón aimed at connecting with children and underserved communities through free performance and tours. Hector has also performed with One Found Sound, a conductor-less chamber orchestra based in San Francisco, CA. As a high school student, he had the opportunity to participate as a member of Carnegie Hall’s NYO2 program in its inaugural year.

Hector completed graduate studies at the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of Donald Palma and received a bachelor’s degree with a performer’s certificate from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where he studied with James VanDemark.