Alejandro Coello Calvo facts for kids

Alejandro Coello Calvo (born July 25, 1989) is a talented Spanish percussionist, composer, and music producer. When he was only 23 years old, he became a percussion teacher at the University of Music Franz Liszt in Weimar in Germany. From 2017 to 2018, he also taught at the Castilla y León Higher Conservatory of Music in Spain.

Biography

Alejandro Coello was born in León, Spain. His father, Emilio Coello, was a composer, and his mother, María Luisa Calvo, was a flautist. His grandfather, Mr. Luis Calvo Rey, led the Municipal Music Band of Astorga. This meant Alejandro grew up surrounded by music.

When he was five, Alejandro started his first music lessons. He went to the "Alcobendas Municipal School of Music and Dance." Later, he took lessons for the contrabass at the "Salamanca Professional Conservatory of Music." Two years later, he switched to percussion lessons with Professor Alejandro Sancho Pérez. At the same time, he also studied harpsichord.

At 16, Alejandro joined the "Castilla y León Higher Conservatory of Music." He studied there for three years with Professor Tomás Martín López. He also began taking chamber music lessons. During this time, he won the "Excellent Academic Record Scholarship" three times in a row.

In late 2008, Alejandro moved to Weimar, Germany. He received a scholarship from the Erasmus Programme. This allowed him to study with the famous percussionist Markus Leoson at the "University of Music Franz Liszt in Weimar." After this, Alejandro returned to Salamanca, Spain, to finish his studies. He graduated with top honors and won the "Most Outstanding Graduate Prize."

Professor Leoson then invited him back to Weimar. Alejandro auditioned for the Konzertexamen, which is the highest music degree in Germany. He was accepted and stayed in Weimar for two more years. During this time, he received the Charlotte-Krupp Stipendium scholarship twice.

From 2012 to 2013, Alejandro prepared for a teaching audition. He won the position and became a percussion teacher at the same university. He was only 23 years old.

Percussionist

Alejandro Coello has played in many different music groups. He started with the "Salamanca Youth Orchestra" and the "Castilla y León Youth Symphony Orchestra." He also played with the "Salamanca University Big Band." Later, he worked with smaller groups like "Plural Ensemble" and "Smash Ensemble." He also performed as a soloist with the "Iberian Orchestra of Leon."

When he was 16, Alejandro conducted the "Per Músicam Orchestra" in Madrid. He also formed a duo called Perc`air duo with his friend, saxophonist Xabier Casal Ares. They performed at the International Music Festival of Santander.

In Weimar, Alejandro started new music projects in both Spain and Germany. In 2009, he formed the MixStick percussion duo with Tomi Ananiev Emilov. In 2011, they traveled to Shanghai, China. There, they won the "First and Golden prize" in the chamber music category at the International Festival and Percussion Competition. They still perform many concerts in Germany, Spain, and Bulgaria. Today, Coello is also a member of the Ensemble Iberoamericano.

Alejandro has also played with the Youth Percussion Pool. This group is led by Tatiana Koleva. The famous composer Emmanuel Séjourné even premiered one of his concertos with them. In 2013, the "Youth Percussion Pool" was named "Ensemble of the year" in Bulgaria.

In 2014, he performed a percussion concert in Hangzhou, China. In November 2015, he was a guest professor for the Shanghai Percussion Association. In August 2016, Alejandro performed and was a judge at the Music Festival in Taiyuan, China.

In October 2016, he performed at the Weimar Palace with his music group, Art Government Percussions. In 2017, he gave a concert for the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and the Shenzhen Foundation.

Coello has learned from many great musicians like Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic and Markus Leoson. He has also played under famous conductors like Christian Thielemann.

Composer and Arranger

Alejandro Coello writes music for many different groups and styles. His music ranges from electronic sounds to instrumental pieces. He often focuses on music for movies and other visual media. Some of his well-known pieces include:

• Concertrate for solo marimba.
• Percversions for vibraphone and other percussion.
• "Malpaíses" for guitar and marimba, which he wrote for his friend, guitarist Ricardo Gallén.

Alejandro has also arranged two songs, "Píntame angelitos negros" and "El cumbanchero." These were arranged for a mixed choir. They were requested by the "Contemporary Vocal Ensemble of Tenerife." On January 11, 2014, two of his piano pieces were performed by pianist Tito García González. This happened at the National Auditorium of Spain in Madrid.

He has also worked on music for short films at the Bauhaus University, Weimar.

One of his recent projects as a composer was for a TV advertisement. It was for the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) about the conflict in Syria. This advertisement was shown on Spanish national television.

Alejandro currently works with director Arthur Keir.

Recordings

Here are some of Alejandro Coello's recent music recordings:

• Percussion Theory: This album features musicians like Simon Phillips and Diego Barber. It was released in 2019.
• One minute later: This was recorded with a jazz quartet. It includes guitarist Diego Barber, Eric Harland, and Ben Williams.
• Estampas Latinas: This recording features the classical guitarist Ricardo Gallen and the Ensemble Iberoamericano.
• Winnipeg: This album is by the "Ensemble Iberoamericano."
• Beatus PALAFOX: This recording features several vocal groups performing 17th-century music.
• He has also made recordings for the "MDR Figaro German radio" (Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk).

Alejandro is currently working on his second CD. It will feature famous percussionists from around the world.

Personal life

Alejandro Coello lives in Weimar, Germany. He teaches percussion at the Hochschule Für Musik Franz Liszt and at the Musikgymnasium Schloss Belvedere. Besides teaching, he also gives special percussion courses. He performs concerts with different music groups and as a soloist. He also continues to compose and write music. He is married to the Mexican singer Liliana Cortez Burciaga.

See also

In Spanish: Alejandro Coello Calvo para niños