Classical Biography
JUAN J. COLOMER (Alzira, Valencia, 1966-)The classical work of Juan J. Colomer, whether as a composer or an orchestrator, has been performed in all continents, both live and in recordings, by professionals such as James Levine, Placido Domingo, Christian Lindberg, Vjekoslav Sutej, José Carreras and by orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony, the Paris Orchestra, the Arena de Verona Orchestra and Choir, the Budapest National Orchestra, the Orchestra of Castilla y Leon, Orchestra of the Valencian Community (Les Arts) and many others, from Tokyo to Chicago, South Africa, Beijing, Washington, Sao Paolo, Las Vegas, Seoul, and commissions by the International Horn Symposium, the Center for Contemporary Music (CDMC), International Philip Jones Competition (Guebwiller, France), Valencian Institute of Music (IVM) and Spanish Brass.
He was nominated for two consecutive years (2003 & 2004) for an Euterpe Award for best symphonic work by the Federation of Musical Societies in Valencia, Spain.
He is currently working on a symphonic work commissioned by the
National Orchestra of Spain for the season 2007/08. He just finished
arranging a set of traditional Spanish melodies for Plácido
Domingo and the Orchestra of the Community of Madrid recorded under
the Deutsche Grammophon label.
Here are some of the comments that have been made about Juan J. Colomer’s
works:
“ ...the best concerto for Horn in many, many years, without doubt one of the best of all time.” - Hermann Baumann, on “Naturaleza Humana” for Horn, Choir of Horns and Orchestra.Juan J. Colomer publishes his works with BIM Editions of Switzerland, Editorial Piles, Tritó Editions and Rivera Editores of Spain.
“ ...his sound brings us back to the era of the great Russian composers of the last century.” - Placido Domingo, on his orchestrations.
“ ... the best contemporary concerto for trumpet.” - Pierre Thibaud, on “Viñetas Sinfonicas” for trumpet and orchestra.
“ ...a symphonic dramatism that hints at Shostakovitch... in the orbit of Stravinsky.” - Elisa Ramos, music critic, on “La Devota Lasciva” for brass quintet and orchestra.
Biography
Juan J. Colomer was born in Valencia (Spain) in 1966. At age 8 he started his music studies in his hometown, Alzira and continued them at the Conservatory of Valencia, where he graduated in Trumpet and Composition. At age sixteen he became founding member of the National Youth Orchestra of Spain and combined such activity with concerts throughout Europe. During the last 4 years of his studies he also teaches at several music centers in Valencia.
In 1990 he moved to Boston to study Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music. At that time he started to get his first jobs as a film composer for documentaries and also receives an Award for a Harp Composition in Madrid.
Two years later he moved to Los Angeles, his actual residence, where he continued his career composing soundtracks for films that have obtained numerous Awards including a First Prize in Monte Carlo and a Nomination for an Ariel in México (the equivalent of the Oscars in that country). In total, he has scored over 30 films.
He combines this activity with arranging and producing for artists such as Juan Carlos Calderón, Bebu Silvetti, Alejandro Fernández and musicians like Alex Acuña and Vinnie Colaiutta.
As an orchestrator he has worked for Plácido Domingo in the series of concerts that the Tenor presents every Christmas from Vienna, as well as the Three Tenors Concert in Paris conducted by James Levine and Monterrey.
In 1999 he released his own CD with Alternative Pop-Rock songs written and produced independently by him, some of which have been used in different movies in the USA.
From 2001 to 2003 he was columnist for the magazine “Al Borde”, which deals with the Latin Alternative Music scene in Los Angeles.
In September 2004 he was nominated for Best Soundtrack at the Shockerfest Festival in California for his work on the movie "The Crimson Hour"
Mr. Colomer has also been a guest speaker for the film students at the prestigious Pasadena Art Center College of Design.