Diego Hernandez

GCYO Conductor, and GCS Assistant Conductor

Diego Hernandez is a nationally recognized conductor passionate about bringing together people of diverse talents to enrich their communities through music. He was the first music director of Google’s community orchestra of employees, the Googler Orchestra, and was a finalist for the American Prize with them. He earned a Master of Music degree with program honors in orchestral conducting at Northwestern, where he also music directed its University Philharmonia. He has also studied at masterclasses throughout the U.S. and in Europe. An active proponent of music education, he pioneered the Googler Orchestra’s educational programming and serves on the board of Music for Minors, a California-based nonprofit.

Outside of conducting, Hernandez has a multifaceted background that includes a four-year tenure as a software engineer at Google and degrees in music and computer science from Stanford University. He is also a freelance clarinetist who enjoys orchestral and chamber music performance, has performed as a concerto competition winner with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and has received the Stanley Drucker Award from the Buffet Crampon USA Summer Clarinet Academy. A native of Tallahassee, he had many of his formative experiences as a clarinetist in various Florida music programs, including school band programs and the Tallahassee Youth Orchestras.