Biography
Spanish conductor, Juan Ortuño, is enjoying an exciting career in the UK, where he is principal conductor of the Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sheffield Symphony Orchestra. He also regularly conducts concerts with Crosby, North Staffordshire and Alderley Edge Orchestras.
Coming form a family of singers, Juan is very passionate about working with opera an choral societies. He is Musical Director of the City of Manchester Opera, with whom he has most recently conducted thrilling performances of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci. Since 2014, he has been Director of Music of Bury Choral Society, receiving praising reviews for the performances of St. Matthew’s Passion, The Armed Man and Mozart’s Requiem. Juan enjoys teaching conducting to young talented musicians at the Junior RNCM, where he also directs vocal and instrumental ensembles.
Juan started music lessons in Madrid with his parents. Both were performers in the Spanish National Radio and Television Choir. His first ambition was Astrophysics in which he obtained an bachelor’s degree. At the same time, he was studying voice, piano and violin. He then decided to focus on a career in music and earned degrees in Orchestral and Choral conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid.
After finishing his degrees in Spain, Juan was awarded a scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue further studies in the UK. He obtained his master’s degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, where he studied with Clark Rundell and Mark Shanahan, and conducted his recital concert with the Manchester Camerata.
During his academic studies, Juan was selected to take part in the young conductors’ project of the Spanish Youth Orchestra (Joven Orquestra Nacional de España), working with them as guest conductor in concert tours. He also attended several conductor master classes with Benjamin Zander, Geroge Hurst, Martyn Brabbins and Antoni Ros-Marbà, and has worked with orchestras such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Sappha Ensemble, Kammerphilharmonie Graz, and Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès, among others. Juan was a finalist in the Luigi Mancinelli International Opera Conducting Competition in Orvieto.