"The public that filled the Dr. Alfredo Celis Pérez Theater this Sunday, was amazed with the magnificent performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony by the young conductor José Carmelo Calabrese, at the head of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by soloists and choir . "
- October 26, 2015-
El Carabobeño Newspaper
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Master José Carmelo Calabrese
UNESCO Peace Ambassador, ROTARY Honorary Member,
SAMSUNG CLX Ambassador.
Born in Valencia, Venezuela, José Carmelo Calabrese is emerging as one of the most outstanding directors of his generation.
First Prize Winner "Vivaldi International Music Competition" 2024 in Orchestra Conducting.
Selected among 20 conductors worldwide to participate in the 2022 Workshop with the New York Chamber Orchestra (USA).
In 2013, he was applauded and praised in Brazil, being honored with the distinguished title of "Musical Ambassador of Venezuela in Brasilia", for his outstanding cultural, pedagogical and social work. That same year he was appointed deputy director of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra, developing an important artistic work, where it is worth highlighting the creation of the Choir of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra.
In 2014, he was appointed principal conductor of the June 24th Carabobo Symphonic Band, Cultural Heritage of the Carabobo State, an institution with which he inaugurated the First National Composition Contest for the state's Symphonic Band, also directing the Big Band Jazz of said institution and founded the educational program "Musical Seedbeds of the June 24th Symphonic Band". Maestro Calabrese was as principal conductor of the June 24th Symphonic Band until 2017, leading it in one of the brightest periods of it.
He has participated as a guest conductor in many national and international orchestras, such as: National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela, Mérida Symphony Orchestra (Venezuela), Carabobo Symphony Orchestra (Venezuela), Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (Colombia), Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of Coffee (Colombia), Simón Bolívar Contemporary Ensemble (Venezuela), JK Symphony Orchestra of Brasilia (Brazil), Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra of Brasilia (Brazil), Caldas Symphony Orchestra (Colombia), Youth Symphony Orchestra of Carabobo (Venezuela), among others.
In the pedagogical field, he was professor of orchestral practice at the Conservatory of Music of Carabobo, full professor of conducting and orchestration at the Arturo Michelena University (Carabobo - Venezuela), gave masterclasses in orchestral conducting at the University of Andes (Mérida - Venezuela) and in 2017 at the Art Music Academy of Caracas. He constantly gives masterclasses and courses in orchestral conducting in various countries, organized by the International Symphonic Movement "Modern Conductors" and the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra Foundation.
He studied orchestral conducting with his father, maestro José Calabrese, and under the tutelage of maestro Alfredo Rugeles he obtained the title of Master's Degree in Music, Specialty, Orchestral Conducting at Simón Bolívar University in 2014 (Caracas).
In 2016 he published his first book entitled: "Guide for Novice Orchestra Conductors in Venezuela". In 2018 he founded and directs the Symphonic Movement "Modern Conductors", which is an organization that aims to promote teaching, research and activities related to the Conduction of Musical Groups.
He has received important distinctions such as Order of Paul Harris and Honorary Fellow by Rotary International, Order of the Bicentennial by the Legislative Council of Carabobo (Venezuela), Order City of Naguanagua by the Municipal Council of Naguanagua - Carabobo State, Mention Bolívar and Urdaneta of the Bolivarian Society of Carabobo, among others.
In December 2019, he was selected as one of the 8 most outstanding carabobeños of the year, named by the Venezuelan newspaper "La Calle".
Since 2019, he has been appointed Artistic and Musical Director of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra (Venezuela) and President of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra Foundation, founding that same year the Musical Training Program "Maestro José Calabrese", in tribute to his father .
He currently works as Artistic and Musical Director of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra, President of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Academic Director of the Musical Training Program "Maestro José Calabrese", General Director of the Symphonic Movement "Modern Directors" and Academic Director of the Brazilian Youth Choral and Symphonic Movement (Brazil).
