Miami Symphony Orchestra's Maestro Signs 5-Year Contract

MIAMI (CBS4)- The Miami Symphony Orchestra will perform An Evening in Vienna at the Adrienne Arsht Center on Saturday, and the man holding the baton recently signed a five year contract that will keep him in South Florida into 2017.

Maestro Eduardo Marturet invited CBS4's Shannon Hori to a rehearsal at Florida International University.

"I'm not mean, but very demanding.  I'm really like a bit of a witch.  So that they do what I want to," Marturet said.

Venezuelan born Marturet has been conducting the Miami Symphony Orchestra since 2006.  Since that time, the symphony's budget has increased from $700,000 to $1.5 million.

Marturet said the additional dollars were needed so that the musicians could get paid more competitively and they could increase the number of concerts.

"Ultimately the orchestra belongs to the community and what we do here is to rise the level," said Marturet.

Marturet is also trying to offer a variety of music.  Last October they conducted a concert featuring music from The Beatles.

Daniel Andai, the Concertmaster said, "(Marturet) is wonderful.  He brings all the music alive.  Makes it a lot of fun.  Draws us into the music."

Marturet has travelled the world conducting on three continents.  He's earned a Latin Grammy nomination.  While he plays a few instruments, he said conducting is in his blood.

"If I were born again," Marturet said, "I'd become a conductor again."