Carlos Ágreda, a conductor with international symphonic experience, has been tapped as music director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra, assuming the baton from Helen Cha-Pyo as she wraps up her 16th and final season.

Members of the board selected Ágreda after “an extensive global search” involving a pool of 70 candidates, according to an ESYO press release.

A native of Colombia and recent conducting fellow with the Curtis Institute of Music, Ágreda has worked with ensembles including the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic and the Colombia National Symphony Orchestra. In 2013, at the age of 22, he reached the third round in Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition. The following year he won a competition for young Colombian conductors to conduct the Colombia National Symphony Orchestra.

Board chair Abbe Kovacik praised the “flexibility and expressiveness” of his conducting and called him “insightful beyond his years. . . affable and engaging,” noting his connection with youth during his ESYO audition.

In a statement, he said he’s “very excited and honored” to assume the position and serve the region through music education. “I am passionate about symphonic music and its power to make society better,” he said.