Alondra de la Parra

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Alondra de la Parra (born October 31, 1980) is the founder and artistic director of the New York-based Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, an orchestra that promotes young soloists and composers from the Americas.

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[edit] Early life and history

Raised in Mexico City, Alondra began her piano studies at age 7 and the cello at age 13. During adolescence she discovered her passion for conducting and at the age of 16 moved to London to study music at the St. Leonard’s Mayfield School.

Alondra was awarded the Presser Scholarship at Manhattan School of Music and in the year 2000 at age 19, moved to New York City to study Piano and conducting, obtaining a BM in Piano Performance under the direction of Jeffrey Cohen.

It was during her undergraduate studies at Manhattan School of Music that Alondra created what would be the start of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. In 2004 the Mexican Consulate asked Alondra to produce a concert featuring Mexican music for the Mexico Now Festival. A 65-piece orchestra concert was produced to critical acclaim from major publications.[1] [2] It was at this event that Alondra became the first Mexican woman to ever conduct a concert in New York City.[3]

In 2007, the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas completed its first International Tour to Mexico City, Dallas and Washington, D.C.[4] [5]

[edit] Career

Alondra has appeared as guest conductor with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic, Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco, Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Veracruz, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes, Uruguay’s Montevideo Philharmonic and Mexico’s National Symphony Orchestra, among others. She recently made her Carnegie Hall debut as guest conductor of the New York Pops Orchestra. She has also conducted the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra in Venezuela where she was awarded the highest honor given to a musician. Alondra was a finalist in the 2nd Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition and has participated in workshops with Kurt Masur, Marin Alsop and Sir Simon Rattle. [6]

[edit] Awards

  • New York Women’s Agenda – Rising Star of 2007[7]
  • 1010 Wins “Newsmakers of Tomorrow” Award – winner in the Arts and Entertainment category[8]
  • “Banda de Honor”, highest honor given to conductors by the Venezuelan System of Orchestras (FESNOJIV)
  • Gabe Wiener Merit Scholarship for an Outstanding Student
  • Manhattan School of Music Taki Concordia Fellowship for Conductors Honorable Mention Award
  • “El Micrófono de Oro” Award, (Highest price given yearly from the Mexican Broadcasting Association)[9]
  • Presser Merit Scholarship Award, Manhattan School of Music
  • Amigos de la Música Music Award, Cuernavaca, Morelos

[edit] References

  1. ^ ALEXIS SWERDLOFF (December 16, 2004). Her Gestures Speak Louder Than Words. New York Sun. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  2. ^ Barrymore Laurence Scherer (April 1, 2004). YOUNG CONDUCTORS LEARN FROM MASUR. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  3. ^ 26-Year-Old Woman Leads Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas. TimesSquare.com (05 June 2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
  4. ^ POA Staff (December 10, 2007). POA's No-Borders Concert Tour. POA Blog. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  5. ^ Marisa Treviño (November 19, 2007). Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas performing in Dallas. Pegasus News. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  6. ^ Andrew Calow. Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition. Calow Classics. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  7. ^ New York Women's Agenda. Bringing individuals and organizations together to affect public policy issues in New York City. New York Women's Agenda. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  8. ^ 1010 WINS Blog (September 23, 2007). Tomorrow's Newsmakers Awards. 1010 WINS. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  9. ^ National Arts Centre (June 22, 2006). The NAC Orchestra presents a free concert on June 29.... National Arts Centre. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.

[edit] External links