Joaquin Valdepenas
With a global reputation Joaquin Valdepenas is considered one of the most
distinguished clarinetists of his generation. He has performed with orchestras
internationally, including the English Chamber Orchestra with which he recorded
the Mozart Clarinet Concerto to critical acclaim. He has made appearances with
the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio at the 92nd Street "Y" in New
York as well as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. His European
debut, a performance with the BBC Welsh Symphony, was broadcast on BBC
Television. His Toronto recital debut, accompanied by Andrew Davis, was
followed by his debut as soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Joaquin has
numerous recordings on the CBC, Summit, Centrediscs and Sony Labels, and has
been nominated for a Juno Award on four different occasions. His most recent
releases are Contrasts, which includes the music of Bartok and Dohnanyi, and
the Brahms Sonatas.
Heard
extensively on radio and television across North America, Joaquin was featured
in a PBS documentary about the Aspen Music Festival, highlighted as both
conductor and clarinetist. Mr. Valdepenas is a founding member of the Juno
award-winning chamber ensemble Amici and has collaborated with the American,
Ying and Muir Quartets, as well as with members of the Cleveland, Vermeer,
Guarnieri and Tokyo String Quartets. He often participates in chamber music
festivals, including those of Aspen, Edinburgh, Marlboro and Banff, the Casals
in Puerto Rico, Evian, New York's Mostly Mozart and the Norfolk, as well as the
Nagano in Japan.
Joaquin
performed the Brahms Quintet with the Cuarteto Latinoamericano in New York and
Pittsburgh, a performance of the Mozart Concerto with the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra conducted by Peter Oundjian, a performance of the Spohr Concerto No.4
with the UNAM orchestra in Mexico City and a guest conducting engagement with
the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
This
season he appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony in recital and the Vancouver CBC
Orchestra. Joaquin has been the conductor of the Toronto Youth Orchestra for 10
years. Mr. Valdepenas has conducted the Light Classics programs of the Toronto
Symphony Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival Wind Ensemble.
Mr.
Valdepenas has collaborated with Yamaha's Hiroshi Nakijima in the design of a
new line of clarinets, combining the French and German traditions in a unique
voice.
Website: www.amiciensemble.com
