Juanjo Mena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juanjo Mena
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Juan José Mena
21 September 1965 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
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| Occupation | conductor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
Juanjo Mena is a famous Spanish conductor. He was born as Juan José Mena on September 21, 1965, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a city in the Basque Country, Spain. A conductor is someone who leads an orchestra or choir.
Contents
Juanjo Mena's Music Career
Early Music Journey and Training
Juanjo Mena started learning music at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Conservatory. He then went to the Madrid Royal Conservatory. There, he learned from important teachers like Carmelo Bernaola (who taught him how to compose music) and Enrique García Asensio (who taught him conducting).
Mena also studied conducting in Munich with Sergiu Celibidache. He received a special scholarship to help him with his studies. In 1997, the Basque Government chose Mena to create the Youth Orchestra of Euskal Herria. After that, he became an associate conductor for the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra.
Leading Orchestras and Guest Appearances
From 1999 to 2008, Juanjo Mena was the main conductor and artistic director of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra. With this orchestra, he recorded music by composers like Jesús Guridi and Andrés Isasi. These recordings were released by Naxos Records.
In 2004, Mena made his first guest appearance in North America. He conducted the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He also worked as the main guest conductor for the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Italy, from 2007 to 2010. From 2007 to 2013, he was the main guest conductor for the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway.
Working with the BBC Philharmonic
In July 2010, the BBC Philharmonic orchestra announced that Juanjo Mena would be their new chief conductor. This important role started in the 2011–2012 season. His first contract was for three years, and he would lead twelve concerts each year. Before this, Mena had already conducted the BBC Philharmonic four times.
In 2013, Mena agreed to stay with the BBC Philharmonic for another three years. He finished his time as their chief conductor in the summer of 2018. Mena and the BBC Philharmonic recorded music by Gabriel Pierné, Manuel de Falla, and Xavier Montsalvatge for the Chandos music label.
Other Important Roles
In 2016, the Orquesta Nacional de España (National Orchestra of Spain) named Juanjo Mena as their new 'Director Asociado'. This means he became their principal guest conductor.
In October 2016, the Cincinnati May Festival in the United States announced Mena as their new principal conductor. He started this role in the 2017–2018 season with a three-year contract. Juanjo Mena stepped down from this position in 2023.
Personal Life and Awards
Juanjo Mena is married to Noemi, and they have two children. In January 2017, he received the Medalla de Oro de Álava. This is a special award from his home region of Álava in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Juanjo Mena para niños
