| Al Carmona | |
|---|---|
Salamanca, Spain |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alberto Porro Carmona |
| Also known as | Al Carmona |
| Born | October 17, 1980 |
| Origin | Mérida, Spain |
| Genres | Art music, Classical music, Improvisation, Pedagogy |
| Occupations | Conductor, Bandleader, Musician, Composer, Teacher |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1980- |
Alberto Porro Carmona (born 1980) is a Spanish conductor, composer, author, music lecturer, teacher and saxophonist. He has led several important European and American orchestras. Currently he works as music conductor at Akureyri School of Music (Iceland). He has received numerous awards and prizes in different countries.
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Alberto began his musical education at the age of 9 years old studying saxophone with Antonio Flores at Mérida Conservatory, and finishing the Bachelor's of Music in Saxophone with professor Cecilia Garcia Grijota (10-year degree). At the same time, he played as soloist at the Music school's Orchestra of Mérida (OCGM) and also with the Local Orchestra of the same city. Furthermore he was a member of bands and other groups linked to this Conservatory.
In 2002, he finished a 3-year Bachelor degree in Education and musical teaching in the University of Extremadura taking part in its Modern Orchestra 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 school Orchestra.
Alberto directed ‘Grupo de Cámara Verdi’ in 2001 for 4 years. This group plays classical and jazz music performing in sereval venues all over Spain as well as for certain television channels in Spain and Portugal.
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, Iceland, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Cuba, Canada, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Faroe and Tunisia.
In 2004, he began to conduct the University of Salamanca Modern Orchestra. 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 continued to study at the Institute of Fine Arts in La Havana (Cuba). He finished a 1-year Postgraduate degree in ‘Orchestral Conducting’ and another Postgraduate degree in ‘Composition’, receiving classes from Orlando Sanchez "Cubajazz", Alejandro Vargas, Ignacio Diaz and Ana Miriam Santana. As saxophonist, he studied a third Postgraduate course with Javier Zalba (member of "Buena Vista Social Club").
As well as this, he conducted the Modern Music Orchestra of the Institute of Fine Arts, ‘Havana Jazz Band’ from October 2005 to May 2006. He was also invited as conductor by the National school of Art (Havana, Cuba) where Alberto conducted ENA Jazz Orchestra for six months with Javier Triana.
In October in 2006, he received a scholarship from "Institute of Drama, Music and Audio-Visual Arts" (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 Orchestra" as soloist and invited conductor in that period of time.
Alberto worked as musician and conductor at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Scotland) as special invited guess with the Spanish dance and music company AF. He worked at the City of Edinburgh Council at the school department during 2006 and 2007 teaching classic and jazz saxophone. He also made recordings with several music bands and the British TV National Channel BBC.
Nowadays, he works as conductor, composer and teacher in Akureyri (Iceland) at TONAK Music School for the Icelandic Government (Tónlistarskólinn á Akureyri). He also works at University of Akureyri from January 2009. Alberto teaches as visiting professor master-classes at Universities in Europe and America during summer. He have been conducting international orchestras especially in America and Europe during 2008-2011. Alberto has received the “Education Honor Award 2010” from the education commission (Akureyrarbæjar) for excellent work and positive impact on the educational community.
Alberto is researching a new methodology in music with an international team of experts and artists from different Universities (Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Argentina and Iceland). This project is supported financially and sponsored by the Icelandic government through Kennarasamband Íslands (KI), Menningarsjóði Akureyrarbæjar and Samtök íslenskra skólalúðrasveita (SÍSL). Mainly based on learning music focusing on emotions rather than academic content. First book will be released on November 2011.