EFRAIN ALBERTO AMAYA
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
Conductor
- Music
Director/Conductor and Founder of The
Point Chamber Orchestra in the Spring of 2006.
- Resident Conductor, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. Fall 1992 to May 2009.
- Music
Director/Conductor, Greensburg
American Opera Spring 2005 to present.
- Music
Director/Conductor, Three Rivers
Young Peoples Orchestras, Fall 2000 to 2006.
- Assistant
Conductor, Westmoreland
Symphony Orchestra, Fall 1994 to 2007.
- Music
Director/Conductor, Carnegie
Mellon University Contemporary Ensemble, Fall 2000 to Spring
2002.
- Music
Director/Conductor, Westmoreland
Youth Symphony Orchestra, Greensburg, PA, May 1996 to July 2002.
- Music
Director, Youth Symphony Orchestra Núcleo la Rinconada Caracas,
Venezuela, May 1989 to August 1992.
- Conductor
and manager, Campanile
Orchestra, a community orchestra based at Rice
University, Houston, Texas, 1985-1988.
- Student
of Samuel Jones at Rice University, 1985-1988.
- Conducting
Study with Uri Mayer (Edmonton Symphony), 1986-1987, Benjamin Zander
(Boston Philharmonic), 1986-1987, and Thomas Baldner at Indiana University,
Summers of 1983 and 1984.
- Participant
in several Conductor's Guild Workshops, with figures as Sergiu Comissiona,
Gustav Meir, Catherine Comet, Michael Charry and Samuel Jones.
- Active
participant in the orchestral conducting workshop, Domaine Forget
St. Irenee, Canada, under the guidance of Pierre Dervaux, July to
August 1987.
- Conductor, Pequeño
Grupo Coral P.G.C., a chamber choir from 1977 to 1979. Conductor,
female choir at the Mereci High School and the "Coro
de la Escuela de Antropología y Sociología de la
Universidad Central" from 1978 to 1979, Caracas, Venezuela.
Guest Conductor Appearances
- Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Veracruz, Xalapa, Mexico, May 20, 2007.
- Pittsburgh Youth Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh, PA, May 6, 2007.
- Washington Symphony Orchestra, Washington, PA, February 10, 2007.
- The Point Chamber Orchestra, inaugural Italy tour performing 7 concerts in: Chioggia, La Fenice Theater in Venice, Basilica of Saint Frances of Assisi, the Piazza Duomo in Chiusi, Chianciano Terme, La Scarzuola in Montegabbione, and the Parco della Musica in Rome. July 2006.
- Musik Innovations Summer Camp, Pittsburgh, PA, June 24, 2006.
- D’Angelo Summer Music Camp, Erie, PA, July 1, 2005.
- Musik Innovations Summer Camp, Pittsburgh, PA, June 18, 2005.
- Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, Edgewood, PA, December 4, 2004.
- Shenandoah Valley Youth Orchestra, Harrisonburg, VA, March 28, 2004.
- Shenandoah Valley Junior Strings, Harrisonburg, VA, March 28, 2004.
- Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, Monroeville, PA, March 13, 2004.
- McKeesport Symphony Orchestra, McKeesport, PA, 2000.
- PMEA District I Orchestra Festival hosted by Fox Chapel Area School District and Shady Side Academy, Pittsburgh, PA, 1998.
- PMEA District I Junior High Orchestra Festival hosted by Norwin School District, Pittsburgh, PA, 1996.
- Orquesta Sinfónica de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina, 1993 and 1995.
- Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal, Caracas, Venezuela, 1989 and 1991.
- Sinfónica de Maracaibo, Maracaibo, Venezuela, 1989 and 1992.
- Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, 1989.
- Jóvenes Arcos de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, 1992.
- Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar del Táchira, San Cristóbal, Venezuela, 1991.
- Participant of the 3rd Arturo Toscanini International Competition at Parma, Italy, June 1987.
Composer
- Mr. Amaya’s children’s opera Phantasmagorilla? No! Phantasmagoria was premiered and commissioned by Opera Theater of Pittsburgh and Gateway to the Arts on February 24, 2007. The Point Chamber Orchestra performed under the baton of Mr. Amaya.
- Labco Dance commissioned, Soul Carrier,written for two cellos and with the choreography by Labco artistic director Gwen Hunter Ritchie was premiered on December 1, 2006.
- Waraira Repano, a clarinet concerto was commissioned and premiered by the Duquesne University Contemporary Ensemble conducted by David Stock and José Gomez as clarinet soloist on April 5, 2006.
- Mr. Amaya was a Meet The Composer Composer-in-Residence with Gateway to the Arts, WQED-FM, Renaissance City Wind Music Society and Shaler School District for three years from September of 2001 to September of 2004, made possible by Meet The Composer, Inc. and its New Residencies program.
- On June 9th, 2004, the pieces Aguaclara and Maroon Dreams were performed as part of the Composer Showcase 2004 (Spotlight on music of Round IX New Residencies). Douglas Ahlsted, tenor and David Premo, cello joined the Renaissance City Winds at the First English Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA.
- On June 11th, 2004 the vocal piece, El Molinero was given its American premiere by the Bellefield Singers as part of “An Evening of Chamber Music” hosted by Chamber Music America. The Renaissance City Winds joined the Bellefield Singers to première my piece Ocean Light the same night at the First English Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA.
- Albany Records, (Albany, NY), released the two cellos version of Mr. Amaya’s piece, “Silent Conversations” performed by Christopher Pegis and Cheeko Matsusaka, as part of a CD called “Zoo of Dreams” in the spring of 2004.
- The Renaissance City Winds as part of their Hammered Strings concert premiered the commissioned sextet "Sidewalk Divertimenti" for piano and woodwind quintet on May 18, 2003, Pittsburgh, PA. Additional performances on May 24, Aspinwall, PA, and on May 16 and 17, Bedford, PA.
- The octet "Polaris" was selected for performance as part of the Seattle Symphony's Viva la Música Festival on May 10, 2003, Seattle, WA. The Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University Contemporary Ensembles have also performed it.
- Composed original music to the film Fading Away by Vanessa Briceño. Film selected for the 2003 Philadelphia Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA.
- The commissioned sextet "Aguaclara" for cello and woodwind quintet was premiered by the Renaissance City Winds as part of their Crystal concerts on February 9 and 10, 2002, Pittsburgh, PA. The Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble gave its second performance on October 10, 2002, Pittsburgh, PA.
- "A Sense of Time" Music of Efraín Amaya, CD released by Élan Recordings, Riverdale, MD, on June 1, 2001.
- "Angelica", a work for string orchestra was commissioned and premiered by the Sewickley BACHfest, comprised by members of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, in September 2000, Sewickley, PA. Other performances by the Point Chamber Orchestra, the “Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de Concepción” the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra.
- "Clepsydra, an Operatic Installation with 13 Performers" performed as part of the "First Night" celebrations on New Year's Eve 2000 at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh in downtown Pittsburgh, PA, sponsored by the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh and the Heinz Endowment.
- The flute and piano piece "Malagigi the Sorcerer" was premiered by Alberto Almarza, flute and Luz Manríquez, piano as part of the Renaissance City Wind concert series in December 1999. They have also performed it as part of the Shady Side concert series in February 2000, the Julliard School of Music as part of Jeanne Baxtresser's International Flute Master class in June 2000, New York, NY. It has been feature at the Gala concert of the 32nd Annual National Flute Association Convention, Nashville, TN, in August 2004 and the 29th Annual National Flute Association Convention, Dallas, TX, in August 2001.
- "Bird House" for flute nonet was commissioned by Michael Pestel and performed as part of Ornithology, a dance/movement performance at the National Aviary of Pittsburgh, PA in April 2000.
- "Silent Conversations", for cello solo. Music composed for a short film with the same name by Vanessa Briceño, Philadelphia, PA, 1999. Its latest performance as a multimedia piece was at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, CA, by the Turtle Island String Quartet’s cellist Mark Swimmer on May 30, 2003. The premiere of this piece as a multimedia work was by cellist Miguel Rojas as part of a Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble concert, Pittsburgh, PA, 2000.
- Alberto Almarza, flute and Luz Manríquez, piano, premiered "Dúo Ami" for flute and piano in Boston as part of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project concert series piano, Boston, MA, April 1995. It has been also performed as part of the Shady Side concert series, 1998, and the U3 Festival on March 15, 2003, both at Pittsburgh, PA.
- “Soledad y el Mar” (Maid in Blue) performed by the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic conducted by Efraín Amaya, Pittsburgh, PA, March, 2000.
- “Pájaros de Tres Alas” (Birds of three wings) performed and recorded for Élan Recordings by the Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble conducted by Efraín Amaya, Pittsburgh, PA, 1998. The same ensemble and conductor performed it again in the year 2000.
- "Explosión de una Memoria", Electronic piece composed for the painting installation by Susana Amundaraín, Museo de Bellas Artes de Caracas. Caracas, Venezuela 1994.
- String Quartet selected for performances for the "XVII Foro Internacional De Musica Nueva Manuel Enriquez" in Mexico City, Mexico, May 1995, the VIII and XI "Festival Latinoamericano de Música" in Caracas, Venezuela, 1994 and 2000; and during the Festival of Venezuelan Music, organized by the American Composers Orchestra in Weill Recital Hall, New York, NY, 1994.
- The Orquesta Sinfónica de Tucumán conducted by Efraín Amaya gave the premiere of "Pájaros de Tres Alas" (Birds of three wings), Tucumán, Argentina, 1993.
- Soledad y el Mar (Maid in Blue) performed by the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal conducted by Efraín Amaya, Caracas, Venezuela, 1991.
- The Carnegie Mellon University Contemporary Music Ensemble has premiered the following works: "Indigo Concerto", a concerto for flute and orchestra, piece commissioned and performed by Alberto Almarza, flute, and Efraín Amaya conducting, December, 2000.
- Silent Conversations for cello solo, Miguel Rojas, cello, 2000; and the octet Polaris in 1997, Efraín Amaya conducting.
- The Carnegie Mellon University Contemporary Music Ensemble has also performed the following works: Four Miniatures for Flute and Clarinet, 2003;Aguaclara sextet for cello and woodwind quintet, October, 2002; Brass Quintet in 1994; and Recuedos for viola solo, with Pittsburgh Symphony member Joén Vasquez, 1993.
- Campanile Orchestra under the baton of Efraín Amaya premiered Soledad y el Mar (Maid in Blue) at Rice University, Houston, TX, 1988.
- Rice University New Music Ensemble performed "Three Songs" for Mezzo-soprano and piano in 1987, and "Brass Quintet" in 1988.
- Compositions performed and premiered in Student Composition Recitals at Indiana University 1980-1985. Among these compositions "Four Miniatures for Flute and Clarinet", "Ikarus" for woodwind quintet, "Three Songs” for Mezzo-soprano and piano, "Brass Quintet" and the "String Quartet.
- "The pieces "Four Miniatures for Flute and Clarinet" and "Brass Quintet" were selected by the Latin America Music Center at Indiana University for performance, Bloomington, IN, 1981 and 1984.
Pianist
- Pianist for two of the works on "A Sense of Time" Music of Efraín Amaya, CD released by Élan Recordings, Riverdale, MD, June 1, 2001.
- Keyboard
player in the River City Brass Band CD "Heartland",
Pittsburgh, PA 1998.
- Orchestral
pianist, Westmoreland
Symphony Orchestra (Greensburg, PA) and the Altoona Symphony
(Altoona, PA) 1995-1999.
- Pianist
and Music Director of the Three Penny Opera production in the Drama
Department at Carnegie Mellon University, Spring 1993.
- Accompanist
at the Emil Friedman Music School, Caracas, Venezuela 90-92.
- Music
Adviser and pianist of the Ballet International of Caracas (Teresa
Carreño), Caracas, Venezuela, from 7/88 until 12/88.
- Student
of Shigeo Neriki, 1982-1985, Zadel Skolovsky, 1980-1982, Indiana
University, and Harriet Serr, 1978-1980, Venezuela.
- Pianist,
New Music Ensemble of Indiana University in 1985, participating in
their tour of New York, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
- Participant
in several piano master classes at Indiana University.Active
accompanist throughout college.
Teaching
- Conductor
of the Carnegie Mellon Summer Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, since
the Summer of 2000 to 2008.
- Harmony
and orchestration teacher at Carnegie Mellon University, since 1997
to present. Music technology instructor since 2000 to 2009.
- Chamber
music instructor and coach at CMU, from 1993 to 2009.
- Music
Director/Conductor, Greenburg Camerata and Conductor of the String
Ensemble at the Susuki school in Greenberg, 1997- 1999.
- Composition,
theory, piano and music technology teacher for the Pre-College summer
program at Carnegie Mellon University from 1995 to 2009. It Includes
private composition and piano lessons, theory courses, computer classes
and the Composers' Forum.
- Private
piano instructor since 1993 in Pittsburgh.
- Piano
instructor at the Emil Friedman Music School, Caracas 90-92.
- Teacher
of harmony and piano at the Núcleo La Rinconada, 89-91.
Vocalist
- Over
8 years of choral singing experience including 2 seasons with the
Opera Chorus at Indiana University, Fall 1982 to 1984.
Miscellanies
- Composed
the radio stinger for "Stock Talk" aired by WQED-FM and WDUQ-FM daily
since the fall of 2000.
- Editing
Producer & Project Assistant of the CD Giacinto Scelsi, The Orchestral
Works 1 on Mode Records (mode
95), 2001.
- Musical
Producer of the CD Xenakis & Varése on Mode
Records (mode 58), 1996.
- 2
years of English teaching at the "Centro Venezolano Americano" in
Caracas Venezuela. 1989-1991.
- 3
seasons with "Arte de Venezuela", a professional theater
company, Levy Rossell, Director, Caracas, Venezuela, 1974-1977.
- Fluent
in Spanish, English and French. Knowledge of Italian and German.
HONORS
- Efraín A. Amaya received a 2004 Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
- Mr. Amaya has been a Meet The ComposerComposer-in-Residence with Gateway to the Arts, WQED-FM, Renaissance City Wind Music Society and Shaler School District for three years since September of 2001, made possible by Meet The Composer, Inc. and its New Residencies program.
- Winner,
Student Composition Contest 1983-1984 sponsored by the Dean of Indiana
University with "Recuerdos", viola solo.
- Full Tuition Scholarship and Stipend, 1985-1988, Shepherd School of Music,
Houston, Texas.
- Recipient, Fellowship Grant from Fundacion Gran Mariscal De Ayacucho, Caracas,
Venezuela, 1986-1988. Recipient of a four-year Fellowship Grant from "FUNDARTE",
Foundation for the Arts, Caracas, Venezuela, 1980-1984.
REFERENCES
Please ask for references directly to Efraín Amaya
|