Agustín Fernández

Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, began an early career in folk music, singing and playing the charango. On voice break stopped performing and took an interest in classical music. Studied at Instituto Laredo, then in La Paz at Bolivian Catholic University. In Japan took composition lessons with Takashi Iida and the late Akira Ifukube. In the UK studied for an MMus at Liverpool University and for a PhD at City University, London. Works include opera, orchestral, choral, chamber music, electroacoustic, and song with piano and with ensemble. Present at numerous international festivals, such as Focus (New York), London International Opera Festival, Huddersfield Festival, Latin American Music Festival (Caracas) and many others. Commissions have been received from The Garden Venture at Royal Opera House, London Arts, Sonic Arts Network, New Juilliard Ensemble, Northern Sinfonia, Park Lane Group and many others. Performances have been undertaken by Juilliard Symphony, BBC Symphony, Orchestra di Perugia, Northern Sinfonia, Garden Venture, Orquesta Filarmónica de Caracas, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, Orquesta de Castilla y León, and many others. As of 2010, Professor of Composition at Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.