LOUIS AGUIRRE (1968)
Born in Camagüey, Cuba in 1968, Louis Aguirre earned in 1991 a B.A. in composition from Havana Superior Institute of Arts, after studying composition with Harold Gramatges, Roberto Valera and Tulio Peramo. He also studied violin and conducting at this same Institute.
From 2002-04 he was enrolled at the Amsterdam Conservatory, studying the composition postgraduate program: "Contemporary music through non-Western Techniques" under the guidance of composer R. Reina. This program is based on South Indian Classical music, (Karnatic music). From 2004-05 he was enrolled at the Århus Royal Conservatory in Denmark, taking a Diplom-exam (Master) in composition under the guidance of composers Karl Aage Rasmussen and Rolf Wallin. In 2007 Aguirre ended with the highest mark his Soloist Class (3er cycle) in Composition at the Århus Royal Conservatory, under the guidance of professors Karl Aage Rasmussen and Hans Abrahamsen.
From 1995-2002 Louis Aguirre was the chief conductor and artistic director of the Camagüey Symphony Orchestra, as well as guest conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Havana and the Symphony Orchestra of Santiago de Cuba. In addition, he was a professor of the Camaguey Music Conservatory, and also artistic director and chairman of the International Festival of Contemporary Music (1996-2002) in Camagüey.
Since he moved to Europe in 2002 he has been living as a freelance composer.
His music has been played at numerous concerts and festivals in Cuba, Mexico, Perú, Argentina, China, USA, and throughout Europe (Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland, Austria, Latvia, Scotland, Slovenia, Estonia, Croatia, Greenland, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Faero Islands, Finland,etc) such as: Festival Internacional de Alicante, Spain; Internationale Ferienkurse für neue musik, Darmstadt, Germany; SUSÅ, Contemporary Music Festival, Denmark; Gaudeamus Week, Holland; Moers Festival, Germany; Forum de Nueva Música, DF, Mexico; Festival International de Música Contemporánea de Lima, Perú; Global-Lokal Festival, Denmark; Crash Festival, Denmark; Vendsyssel Festival, Denmark; Amsterdam Percussion Festival, Holland; Festival Internacional de Música de Lucena, Córdoba, Spain; Århus International Guitar Festival, Denmark; Festival Inernacional de la Havana and Festival Internacional de Música Contemporánea de Camaguey, Cuba; Festival Internacional de Udine, Italy; Festival Internacional de Musica de Morelia, México; Festival de Música Contemporánea de Segovia, Spain; Nuevas Sonoridades, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Tallin Music Days (Kava Tallinnas), Estonia; Percussion Festival Platges de Moncofa, Spain; Karnatic Festival of Amsterdam, Holland; Festival Internacional Carmelo Bernaola, Spain; Festival Wind & Bellows 2008, Frederikshavn, Denmark; Nuuk guitar event 2011, Greenland; Februar Dage Festival, Aalborg, Denmark; Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada, Spain; Liubliana Festival, Slovenia; SUMMARTÓNAR, Faroe Islands Festival of Classical and Contemporary Music
The impact of Aguirre's music, many times praised for its outstanding originality and power, has given him the opportunity of been a composer largely commissioned, and also, the privilege to collaborate with performers and ensembles such as: Ere Lievonen, Enric Monfort, Adam Ørvad, Carlos Gálvez, Franca Drioli, Susanna Borsch, Valter Sivilotti, Matthijs Koene, Ned McGowan, Vesselin Parachkevov, Maria Jonas, Johannes Tonio Kreutch, Mikkel Andersen, Malene Bichel, Karolina Leedo, Ainoha Miranda, B.C. Manjunath,...
Axyz Ensemble (Amsterdam), Arditti String Quartet (UK), Residencias Ensemble (Spain), Mikrokosmos Ensemble (Italy), Sanguine Duo (Denmark), Trío Arbós (Spain), Kimbala Percussion Group (Spain), Esbjerg Ensemble (Denmark), Trío Morelia (México), DuoMetrie (Amsterdam), X Percussion Duo (Spain), Verso Duo (Amsterdam), Havana Symphony Orchestra, Santiago de Cuba Symphony Orchestra, and Camaguey Symphony Orchestra (Cuba), SyZyGy Trio (Denmark), Harmasoflugi Quintet(Denmark), Hymnia Choir (Denmark)
His music has been broadcasted by the spanish, cuban, german, dutch radio, and also by the danish radio and television
Louis Aguirre has been the recipient of several prizes and grants such as:
1988- the UNEAC (Cuban Composers and Artist's Society) first Chamber music prize for his "Concierto para trío Clásico"
1989- Prize for Canto de Otoño at the Havanas University Composition Contest Jornadas Martianas.
1991- The UNEAC prize in chamber music for "Visiones".
1991- First Honorable Mention UNEAC in symphonic music for Diálogos con el Cuervo.
1993- The UNEAC first prize in solo pieces for Alegoría I.
1993- The UNEAC first prize in Choir music for Exaudi Nos, Deus
1994- First prize of the Cubans National Center of Art Schools for Alegoría I.
1994- First Mention of the Cubans National Center of Art Schools for Sombras- Espacio Infinito.
1994- The UNEAC first prize in chamber music for Fractales.
1994- The UNEAC first Mention in vocal music for Tres Poemas de Pedro Salinas.
1998- Grant for composers from the Brothers Saiz Association.
1999- The government of Camaguey City gave him the medal 486 anniversary of the foundation of the city.
2002- Spanish Author Foundation scholarship
2003- Spanish Author Foundation Scholarship
2008- Grant by the Statens Kunstfond of Denmark.
2009- Grant by the Statens Kunstfond of Denmark
2009- Honorable Mention in the Ironworks Percussion Duo Competition, California,USA.
2009- Grant by the Danish Composers' Society
2010- Grant by the Statens Kunstfond of Denmark
2010- Special Mention for "FRACTAL 2" for solo piano at the 19th IBLA World Competition, New York, USA.
2010- Grant by the Danish Composers' Society
2011- Winner (1st prize) of the 2011 Martirano Award, University of Illinois, USA.
2011- Grant by the Statens Kunstfond of Denmark.
2011- Winner (3rd prize) at the 9th Italy Percussion Competition, Fermo, Italy, for my solo percussion Oba Kosso.
2011- Finalist at the Cintas Fellowship Competition, USA.
2011- Honorable Mention at the 11. Kompositionswettbewerb um der Carl von Ossietzky-Preis der Universität Oldenburg for my percussion duo YALODDE I.
2012- Grant by the Stantens Kunstfond of Denmark.
2012- Awarded 3rd prize at the Musica Domani Prize 2012, USA, for my work ICONOS, for violin and piano
His work list, with more than 90 pieces, includes: opera, orchestral and chamber music, solo pieces, electronic, choral and vocal music.
http://louisaguirre.wix.com/louis-aguirre