Josefina Benedetti facts for kids
Josefina Benedetti Punceles is a Venezuelan-American composer, musicologist, and choral director. She was born on September 17, 1953. A composer writes music, a musicologist studies music history and theory, and a choral director leads groups of singers. Josefina Benedetti is known for her classical music and for mixing different styles like electronic and pop music.
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About Josefina Benedetti
Early Life and Education
Josefina Benedetti was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in the United States. Her father was from Venezuela. She started her music journey by studying piano in Caracas, Venezuela, and later in London, England. She completed her piano studies at the National Conservatory of Music, Juan José Landaeta. She also learned how to lead choirs at the University Institute of Musical Studies. Later, she earned a degree in musicology from the Universidad Central de Venezuela.
Awards and Recognition
Josefina Benedetti has received many important awards for her music. She won the National Prize for Composition three times: in 1989, 1993, and 1998. She also received the Municipal Music Prize of the City of Caracas in 1990. In 1993, she won the José Antonio and Carmen Calcaño Foundation Composition Prize. These awards show how much her work is valued in the music world.
Leadership Roles
Besides composing, Josefina Benedetti has held many important leadership positions in music organizations. She was the president of Jeunesses Musicales de Venezuela from 1991 to 1996. She also led the National Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation from 1995 to 2000. She was involved with the music label Música y Tiempo, which means "Music and Time." She served as the Secretary General of the Venezuelan Music Council, which is part of UNESCO. She was also a member of the boards for the Venezuelan Society of Contemporary Music and the Teatro Teresa Carreño Foundation. From 2000 to 2005, she was the Director of Culture at the Central University of Venezuela.
Josefina Benedetti's Music
Her Unique Style
Josefina Benedetti is known as a classical composer. However, she also likes to experiment with different sounds. She often mixes classical music with electronic and pop music. This makes her compositions very unique and interesting.
Where Her Music is Played
Josefina Benedetti's music has been performed in many different countries. Her works have been heard in Venezuela, the United States, Cuba, Ecuador, Uruguay, Argentina, and France. Some of her compositions are even kept in the National Library file in France. Her music has also been recorded on compact discs. Many of these recordings were released by the Música y Tiempo label, which she helped start in 1996. Other independent producers have also recorded her works.
Selected Compositions
Here are some of Josefina Benedetti's notable works:
General Works
- 2013: Mbombela
- 2006: Sintharte, Etnorap
- 2003: Transistoria
- 2002: Caracas 11 A
- 1992: La muerte del delfín (The Death of the Dolphin)
Vocal Works
These pieces are written for singers:
- 2005: Oda a las mujeres (Ode to Women)
- 1993: Guatopo, Réquiem para un siglo (Requiem for a Century)
- 1992: La canción del pirata (The Pirate's Song)
- 1989: Palabreo
- 1988: Canción de cuna (Lullaby), Cantar (To Sing)
Chamber Music
Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments:
- 2007: Lilith
- 2001: Montuno
- 1999: Danzas lunares (Lunar Dances)
- 1998: Impromtu Carnavalesco, Pantanal
- 1994: Hojas al viento (Leaves in the Wind)
- 1993: Ut Pictura Poesis?
- 1992: Con Corda
- 1991: Intermezzo nº 1
- 1990: Suite del intrépido (Suite of the Intrepid)
Orchestral Works
These pieces are written for a large orchestra:
- 2019: Humboldt
- 2007: Rugeles´82
- 2001: Cantos del camino (Songs of the Road)
- 1998: Macuro
- 1996: Miserere mei, Citas inocentes (Innocent Dates)
See also
In Spanish: Josefina Benedetti para niños
