He was for six years, Dean of the National Conservatory of Music in Guatemala,also was conductor of the National Choir of Guatemala. At present, He serves as Musical and Artistic Director of Orquesta Sinfonica "Jesus Castillo", and performs constantly as a soloist and in Chamber Music performances.Music Studies:
-Masters Degree, Music, University of North Texas (UNT), Denton, Texas January 1988-May 1990
Major: Cello; Minor: Conducting
-Bachelors Degree, Conservatorio Nacional de Musica (Guatemala), January 1977-1984 (Guatemalan system), Cello
Teachers: (Orchestra Conducting) Serge Zechnacker, Eduardo Mata, Jorge Sarmientos, Anshel Brusilow; (Cello) Adolfo Odnoposoff, Carter Enyeart, Eduardo Ortiz
Master Classes:
Conducting: Jorma Panula, Eri Klas, Mario Benzecri, Guillermo Scarabino
Violoncello:
Yo-Yo Ma, Antonio Meneses, Jascha Silverstein, Gary Hoffman
Music Theory: John Cage, Witold Lutowslasky. Summer Institute with Tafel Baroque Orchestra-(Baroque Cello)-under the guidance of Christina Mahler Baroque cello and Jeanne Lamon Director of Baroque Orchestra.
Posts as Music Director and Conductor:
National Orchestra of the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica (Guatemala)1980-1987; Chamber Orchestra of Guatemala 1981-1987; Chamber Orchestra of Colima, Mexico 1991-1993; Jesus Castillo Symphony Orchestra January1997- December 2007
Posts as Assistant Conductor:
Orquesta Sinfonica da OSUSP, Sao Paulo, Brazil 1994-1996; Philharmonic of Jalisco, Mexico, April 1991-December 1993; Chamber Orchestra of the City of Guatemala 1981-1982
Posts as Principal Guest Conductor:
Orquesta Sinfonica de Guatemala, 1997-2005; Philharmonic of Jalisco 1990-1997; National Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador 1991- present
Guest Conductor:
1989 to present - National Philharmonic Orchestra of the Republic of Moldova; Radio-TV Symphony Orchestra of Moldova; Czech Virtuosi, Czech Republic; Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra, Lithuania; Russe Philharmonic, Russe, Bulgaria; Pro-Arte Emsemble Mainz, Germany; San Francisco Sinfonietta, USA; National Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador; “Carlos Chavez” Symphony Orchestra, Mexico; Philharmonic of Jalisco, Mexico; Matanzas Symphony Orchestra, Matanzas, Cuba; Orquestra Sinfonica da Bahia, Bahia, Brazil; State Symphony Orchestra of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Symphony Orchestra of Londrina, Brazil; National Symphony Orchestra of Peru; Symphony Orchestra of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; New England Conservatory of Music Youth Symphony Orchestra (on share concert and invited by Maestro Benjamin Zander) InterArte Symphony Orchestra, Guatemala; and Opera productions in Guatemala (Don Giovanni, Turandot, Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana) and the National Opera Theater of Moldova, among others.
As conductor He has collaborated with soloists such as Antonio Lauro del Claro, Carlos Prieto, Keiko Abe, Carter Enyeart, Luis Orlandini, Licia Lucas, Luis Felipe Giron May among others, have collaborated with him
Violoncello:
-Soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Guatemala, Jesus Castillo Symphony Orchestra and many Chamber groups 1980-2006
-Principal Cello, Jalisco Philharmonic April 1991-1993; Assistant Cello, Garland Symphony 1989-1990.
-Member of Orbis-Orbe String Quartet, Ensamble etherium,member of Alnestig piano Trio, Tafel Baroque Orchestra Summer Institute.
Organizations:
-Founder in 1998, and Vice-President of Foundation Music and Youth in Guatemala, which it did worked to work with Symphony Children and Youth Orchestras, with children and youth in social risk. This was inspired through Venezuela “ El sistema”, for more than 10 years.
- Member of the “Instituto de Estudios Laicos Contemporaneos de Guatemala”.
-Organizer, founder and Musical and artistic director of the 1st Festival of Central America Youth Orchestras of the North triangle ( Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras), OSJUNCA for concerts in Guatemala city and Antigua Guatemala. With master classes, seminars, etc.
- Benefits concerts for humanitarian and social causes, 1999-2006
- Benefit Concerts as cellist to raise funds to help ill people with AIDS in hospital, Guatemala City.
-Worked as volunteer with FPMT foundation in social programs.
-Member of AmericanFederation of Musicians US.
-American League orchestras
Prizes and Honors:
- “Most Outstanding Musical Career as an Orchestra Conductor,” Asociación Nacional de Periodistas de Guatemala (APG) November 2009.
-“Outstanding Career and Musical Conductor of the Rotary Chamber Orchestra” Rotary Club, Guatemala, July 2009.
- 1st Prize at the First Latin American Conductors Competition, November 1993, Brazil
- “Most Outstanding Musical Career,” Medal, Vicenta de la Parra, Journalist Association, August 2006
- Honorary Citizen of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, July, 2006
- Recognition as Outstanding Conductor, Ministry of Culture of Guatemala, October 2007
- Recognition as Founder and Supporter of Youth Symphony Orchestras in Guatemala, Ministry of Culture of Guatemala, October 2007
- Semi-finalist of San Antonio Texas Symphony Orchestra Hispanic Grant October 1991, San Antonio, Texas
- “Musician Leadership” National Award of the Band Association North Dakota, July, 1978
Academic Positions:
- Dean of the National Conservatory of Music of Guatemala, August 2000-December 2006
- Professor of Conducting, University del Valle of Guatemala, January 1997-2002
- Professor of Music, Theory and Philosophy of Music, University del Valle of Guatemala, January1999-2004.
- Creator of the National Guatemalan System of Children and Youth Orchestras. Ministerio de Educaion, 2006
- Principal Director and permanent Adviser of the Music Department of the National Superior College of Arts, University of San Carlos of Guatemala, 1999-present.
-Developed the entire national music curricula for the University of San Carlos, 1999
-Conducting Master Classes as teacher in: La Habana Cuba, Guatemala, Italy, Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico.
Other Studies:
- Master of Philosophy (27 credits), Universidad Rafael Landivar, January 1999 December-2000
- Archaeology and Anthropology (BSC) at Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, 1985-1987 (30 credits
Other Activities:
-Founder of the Foundation of Music and Youth, Guatemala, Instructor of Eastern Philosophy, FPMT Foundation, Guatemalan Study Group September 2002-June 2006
-Consultant, Ministry of Education and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Guatemala, Create system of children and youth symphony orchestras throughout Guatemala, 2006
Papers published:
- “Nietzsche and the Myth and its interpretation in the Latin American Culture” Universidad Rafael Landivar, Instituto de Investigaciones Musicologicas, October 1999
- Mario Payeras: Musica sobre Pajaros, Ballenas y Crisálidas” a Philosophic Essay on this Guatemalan Philosopher, Revista de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, June 2003.
Countries Lived:
USA, México, Brazil, Germany, Republic of Moldova
Languages:
• Spanish (native)****
• English (read, speak, write) ***
• Portuguese (read, speak, write)***
• French (speak, read-intermediate) ***
• Italian (speak, read, intermediate both) **
• German (speak, read, write poor)**
• Romanian (speak-Poor)*
* Poor ** Intermediate *** Good ****Excellent
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