Alberto Porro Carmona

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Alberto Porro Carmona (b.1980) "Al Carmona"

[edit] Biography

Al Carmona
Concert: Salamanca, Spain
Background information
Birth name	Alberto Porro Carmona
Also known as	Al Carmona
Born	October 17, 1980(1980-10-17)
Origin	Extramadura, Spain
Genre(s)	Swing, Big band, Classical music
Occupation(s)	Musician, Bandleader, Composer
Instrument(s)	Saxophone
Years active	1980-

Alberto began his musical education at the age of 9 years old studying saxophone with Antonio Flores at the Merida Conservatory, and finishing the Bachelor of Saxophone with Cecilia Garcia Grijota (10-year degree). At the same time, he played as a soloist in the Conservatory Orchestra of Merida (OCGM) and also in the Municipal Band of the same city. Furthermore he was a member of the Emerita Jazz Band and other groups linked to the Conservatory.

In 2002, he finished a 3-year degree in Musical Teaching in the University of Extremadura taking part in its Big Band for two seasons. In 2003 he won the Special Price award (accesit) in the ‘Young Performers of Extremadura’, funded by the Extremadura Government. He studied composition with Jose Ignacio de la Peña, some of which songs were played by the Conservatory Orchestra of Merida.

Alberto directed ‘Camara Verdi Group’ in 2001 for 4 years. This group plays classical and jazz music performing in hotel-chains all over Spain as well as for certain television channels in Spain.

In 2005 Alberto finished a 4-year degree ‘History and Sciences of Music’ (MMus) in the University of Salamanca. Whilst studying in Salamanca, he took lessons with the north-American teacher Bobby Martinez, taking part in some Master-Classes and several courses with a number of musicians such as Paquito D’Rivera, Ramon Cardo and Bob Sands, amongst others. Alberto played concerts in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Cuba and Tunisia.

In 2004, he began to direct the University of Salamanca Big Band. He invited and conducted famous musicians (Bart Van Lier, Yaure Muñoz, Roman Feliu O’Reilly, Diego Ebbeler, Albert Bover, German Kucich, Perico Sambeat, Pepe Espinosa, Owe Larson, and John Goergini). He trained and was involved as a conductor in several courses with Noman Hogue, Tony Heimer, and Cheryl Walkers. During the previous academic year (2004-2005), he won a scholarship and worked in the ‘Cultural Activities Services’ of the University of Salamanca.

He continues to study at the High Institute of Art in La Havana (Cuba). He finished a 1-year Post-graduate course in ‘Director of Orchestra’ and ‘Modern Harmony’, receiving classes from Orlando Sanchez “Cubajazz”, Alejandro Vargas, Ignacio Diaz and Ana Miriam Santana. As saxophonist, he studied another Post-graduate course with Javier Zalba (member of “Buena Vista Social Club”).

As well as this, he conducted the Modern Music Orchestra of the High Institute of Art, the ‘Havana Jazz Band’ from October 2005 to May 2006. Too, he was invited as Conductor by National School of Art (Havana, Cuba) and Alberto conducted the ENA Big Band for six months with Javier Triana.

In October in 2006, he received a scholarship from the Dramatic, Music and Audio-Visual centre (CEDRAMA) of his region. This scholarship was dedicated to develop high specialization and improvement in music in EMBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina (October- December 2006). He was a member of EMBA Big Band as a soloist and invited director in that period of time.

Alberto worked as musician and conductor at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as special invited guess in Alba Flamenca show. Nowadays, he works at the City of Edinburgh Council at the school department.