BIOGRAPHY

He began his international concert career at a very early age, as a result of winning first prize at the prestigious Giovanni Battista Viotti International Guitar Competition at the age of 18 in Vercelli, Italy.

At the same time he won first prize at the “José Ramírez” International Guitar Competition in Santiago de Compostela. Later, he won first prize at the “Francisco Tárrega” International Guitar Competition in Benicasim, Spain. He has performed at relevant International Festivals, including Santander, Pollensa, Alicante, Santiago de Compostela, Córdoba, Stresa, Paris, Puerto Rico, Cuba and the “Texas Music Festival” in Houston, USA.

He has performed as a soloist with foreign orchestras such as the English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Paris Chamber Orchestra, Houston Camerata, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Cuban National Orchestra, Minsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Nederlands Kamerorkest, New European Strings Chamber Orchestra, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.

In Spain with orchestras such as the National Orchestra of Spain, RTVE Orchestra, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, Community of Madrid Orchestra, Reina Sofía Orchestra, Spanish Chamber Orchestra, Galician Philharmonic, Castilla y León Symphony, Valencia, Balearic Islands , Malaga, Murcia, etc. He has toured Europe, Central America, South America, Asia and the United States.

He has been a professor of guitar at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. In 2009 he was named “Honorary Professor” of the National University of San Agustín de Arequipa, Peru. He has conducted numerous master classes in Europe and South America. For several years he was chief conductor of the “Ciudad de Manacor Chamber Orchestra” in Mallorca.

Parallel to his concert and pedagogical dedication is what he does as a composer. His “Ten Studies in Virtuosity” are performed by numerous guitarists. It is worth highlighting one of his latest works: “Homage to Charles Chaplin” (Collection of 20 Pieces for Guitar). Honoring the figure of the honoree, it is music with a very understandable and spontaneous language, with certain nods to the American music of the time and Chaplin’s cinematography.

In 2004 he was awarded the “Trujamán Award” for the guitar for his career and musical career. In 2016 he obtained the “Chitarra d’ Oro” for the recording of the “Complete Works for Lute” by J.S. Bach in Alessandria, Italy. In 2018 he received the “Rotary Mallorca Humanities Award 2017-2018” for his professional career. In 2011 the Provincial Municipality of Arequipa in Peru named him “Illustrious Guest” of the city.

He has collaborated closely with the great Spanish composers of the 20th century, who have dedicated and written works specifically for him. This continued work has allowed a considerable expansion of the repertoire for guitar. More than 200 of his works are the ones that he has premiered throughout his long musical career. There are works from this new repertoire that are played by guitarists from all over the world. Undoubtedly, currently performers have more choice in the repertoire of contemporary Spanish music for guitar.

He has revised, fingered and recorded the complete works for guitar by the Granada-born composer Ángel Barrios (1882-1964). More than 30 albums are those that he has made, including part of the repertoire that he has promoted. An outstanding project is “Latin American Guitar”, newly created works that Gabriel Estarellas requested from South American guitarist composers. Another important recording is “Spanish and Italian Contemporary Music for Guitar” which he made for the “Stradivarius” record label in Italy. The recording of the “Complete Works for Lute” by J.S. Bach has brought him unanimous applause from critics and audiences, as well as the “Chitarra d’Oro”.