José Luis Estellés

(Bétera, 1964)

José Luis Estellés enjoys a distinguished international career in orchestra conducting, as well as a clarinetist and teacher. He has given clarinet performances all over Europe, in the USA, Mexico and Japan, collaborating frequently with various quartets, the soprano Edita Gruberova and several pianists, and with renowned maestros.

He has recorded for numerous labels, including Turtle Records, Emergo Classics, Verso, Kairos, Naxos and IBS Classical Gold. He has been the clarinet soloist of the Granada City Orchestra since 1991, and has also worked with other ensembles from Spain, England, Belgium and Germany.

He teaches clarinet at Musikene - the Basque Country Superior Music Centre, where he was Director of Orchestra Studies and Artistic Director. He is a regular guest teacher at the Rotterdams Conservatorium and the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, as well as at other educational centres and international festivals.

He was a member of the jury at the ARD (Munich) and Aeolus (Dusseldorf) international contests, and was also Artistic Director of the TAiMAgranada and the Cameralia.

As an orchestra conductor, José Luis Estellés has performed in Spain, Belgium, France, England, Bulgaria and Mexico. His work spans the symphonic genre, opera and contemporary compositions, and he has conducted prestigious ensembles both in Spain and overseas, as well as working with renowned soloists.

His recordings include numerous international debuts, such as the opera, 'Juan José' by Pablo Sorozábal and the concert work by Juan José Colomer for brass and orchestra (VERSO).

He has directed premieres of compositions by Lazkano, Conde, Cruz Guevara, Fernández Guerra, García Román, Garrido, Holt, Kozakura, Lara, Núñez, de Pablo, Sorozábal and Zavala, and has offered first performances in Spain of works by Birtwistle, Gubaidulina, Holt, Werner Henze, Xenakis, Torres Maldonado, Lindberg, Davies and Kats-Chernin.