This Tuesday, May 24th, 2016 at noon in the Weitz Center, Composers Francisco Zúñiga Olmos and Alephsus Valdés will present selections of their music, and discuss Mexico’s artistic and cultural climate.
Alephsus Valdés’ musical career consists of composing, arranging, recording, mixing and post producing music. As a composer, his works focus on theatrical, orchestral, film, and chamber music, with arrangements for different instrumentations. Amongst his accomplishments include writing the entire score for the film Ayer, Hoy y Siempre by Carlos Reyes (2011) and directing Luminae, a project of religious music incorporating modern arrangements and choral music. Valdés recorded and mixed the CD production of the Tuúmben Paax Vocal Ensemble in 2010. He also has conducted several musical projects, including Bato Loko Group in France and Maicu Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble in Italy, the United Kingdom and Dubai, performing arrangements of Mexican music throughout Europe. In 2014 he released his first album, “Neocortex,” influenced by world and Mexican popular music, performing his own compositions alongside other renowned artists like Simona Jackson and Iraida Noriega.
Francisco Zúñiga Olmos studied professional classical guitar at Escuela Nacional de Música (UNAM) under Guillermo Flores Méndez, and received his musical education degree at the National Musical Conservatory in Mexico. Zúñiga began his trajectory as a choral conductor in 1977, conducting the Armonic Progression Chamber Choir until 1981. From 1985 to 1990 Zúñiga conducted for the National School of Biologic Sciences Choir from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Zúñiga won many competitions in that role, and has since orchestrated concerts at many prominent venues in Mexicao, including, Sala Manuel M. Ponce, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. In 1990 Zúñiga founded the “Ensemble Vocal Cantera” Chamber Choir, which he still conducts. Zúñiga has taught at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música, where he is now Coordinator of the Guitar Academy, since 1979, and at UNAM since 1985. He teaches guitar, solmization and choral singing at both professional schools.