José Escandell began his musical studies at the Alzira Musical Society under the direction of Maestro Hernández Guirado, later extending his studies at the “Joaquin Rodrigo” Conservatory of Music of Valencia, specialising in saxophone, harmony, counterpoint, composition, choir conducting and orchestra conducting. His facet as a musician focuses mainly on orchestral and opera conducting, a subject he has studied since 1992 with Maestros Cervera Collado and Cervera LLoret.
In 1987 he founded the Alzira Musical Society choir with which he obtained his first successes performing for several years all over Spain.
In 2005, he won the Composition Competition of L’Olleria (Valencia), winning both the jury’s and the public’s prize.
From 1998 to the present day, he has been guest conductor in numerous orchestras. As guest conductor, he has directed the Orchestra Philarmonic of Ploiesti (Romania), the Orchestra of Logroño (Spain), the Chamber Orchestra of Empordà (Spain) with which he collaborates regularly, the Philharmonic
Orchestra of Pleven (Bulgaria) with which he also collaborates regularly, the Studio Primo Orchestra (Bulgaria), The Symphony Orchestra and Opera of Russe, The Milano Classical Orchestra (Italy), The Cervera Lloret Orchestra
(Spain), The City of Valencia Orchestra with which he closed the International Music Festival of Llutxent for two consecutive years, The EAFIT Orchestra of Medellin (Colombia), The European Symphony Orchestra.
In the Opera world, he was assistant conductor to Maestro Collado for more than a decade, with whom he collaborated in the operas La Bohème, Un ballo maschera, La Traviata, La Flauta Mágica, Tosca, Turandot and Carmen, both in Sabadell and at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona.
He worked with Montserat Caballé for several years on various musical projects.
In 2015, he collaborated with the prestigious opera director Maestro Guidarini at the International Festival de Bel Canto in Paris.
In 2021 he toured Spain with the operas TURANDOT AND TOSCA with the company L.G Artist Management, performing at the Teatro Principal in Ourense, Teatro Concha Espina in Torrelavega, Teatro de la Paz in Albacete…
He has directed on numerous occasions, zarzuelas and lyric galas among which the titles of: “La del manojo de Rosas”, “La verbena de la Paloma”, “La Gran Jota de la Dolores”, “El gato de la Dolores”,”La verbena de la Paloma”, “La Gran Jota de la Dolores”, “El gato Montés”, “Los Claveles”….
As a teacher, maestro Escandell has given CEFIRE courses for teachers on Harmony through history, as well as a course on Opera repertoire for instrumentalists and singers with the collaboration of prestigious teachers such as Anahi Carfi (concertmaster of La Scala in Milan).
Its repertoire covers all genres, periods and styles. From classical polyphony to the most contemporary music. Among the teachers with whom he has studied we can highlight: Mto Hernández Guirado, Mto Cervera Lloret, Mto. Cervera Collado, Mto.Marian Didú, Mto. Eduardo Cifre, Mto. Tomás Marco, Mta Zulema de la Cruz, Mto Marco Guidarini, Mto Marco Zuccarini…
He has conducted soloists such as: Anahí Carfi, Javier Agulló, Amparo Navarro, Javier Palacios, Esperanza Rumbau, Vicente Alós, Juan Ferrandis, José Ferrero, Mª José Martos, Svetla Anguelova Krasteva, Lello Narcisi, Ivaylo Deckoff… among others.
In 2020, he was a member of the jury of the “International Orchestra Auditions Awards” of the Samnium University of music.
In July 2020, he has been appointed honorary conductor of KClassic orchestras, a network of 60 orchestras in South Korea. For the next season he plans to conduct the company Prolirica de Antioquia in Medellín, O.S Boca de Río (Mexico), O.S EAFIT in Medellín, Ópera de Colombia (Bogotá), Compañía Verdi Lírica (Buenos Aires), a tour with the operas Aida and Turandot
in Spain with the company L.G Artist Management.
These are some of the skills that are necessary to consider yourself a good conductor. Although as Ricaccardo Muti said, “I’m in the middle of the road and I’m sure that I’ll never get to the other part of the river.”
The knowledge received by some of the great masters throughout my career, has led me to conduct European orchestras and also collaborate with international artists.
CONDUCTOR
FOUNDER
Founder and Conductor for fifteen years.
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
I collaborated with Maestros Collado & Guidarini in the operas: La Bohème, Un Ballo di Maschera, La Traviata, Die Zauberflöte, Carmen, Cosí fan Tutte, El Buque Fantasma, Falstaff, II Barbiere de Siviglia. In theaters such as Liceo of Barcelona, Sabadell, Karlsruhe . . .
VALENCIA
PROJECTS
Collaborated with soprano Montserrat Caballé in several prominent projects through the years.
RESEARCH WORK
I initiated my studies of Saxophone, Harmony, Counterpoint, Composition, Choir Direction and Orchestra Direction at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquin Rodrigo in Valencia, Spain.
Some of the great teachers and interpreters with whom I have had the pride of sharing our passion.
International Orquestra Auditions Awards
Entrevista Orquesta Sinfónica EAFIT
Orquesta Sinfónica EAFIT
Llutxent´s Festival – Orchestra City of Valencia
Orchestra Cambra of L´empordá.
Orchestra Cambra of L´empordá.
Orchestra Cambra of L´empordá.
Philarmonica de Pleven – Bulgaria.
Read Audioclasica´s interview, made on 07/2019 here.
If you’d like to contact me, you can do so through myself or my manager. If you’ll fill out the contact form on this page. I’ll be glad to hear from you. Thanks for your interest.
