Carlos Escalona - Clarinet
Carlos began his musical studies in Venezuela, where he was formed into “El Sistema”, a state-funded organization created in 1975 by the Venezuelan maestro Jose Antonio Abreu with the idea of systematizing music education and promoting the collective practice of music through symphony orchestras and chorus as a means of social organization and communitarian development.
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Later he studied in Simon Bolivar Music Conservatory, where he received lessons with Jorge Montilla and Mark Friedman.
During the period 2017-2018 he studied in Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome as academician, where he was a permanent student of maestro Alessandro Carbonare.
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Carlos obtained two Master degrees in clarinet and bass clarinet at the Royal Conservatory of Mons with Professor Ronald Van Spaendonck and Paolo De Gaspari.
He has been awarded first prize in the Adolphe Sax's Bass Clarinet International Competition in Paris 2020, “Prix 2019” des Amis d'Arsonic in Mons and 2nd prize winner of the Rotary Competition in Madrid.
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Carlos received master-classes from Anthony Pay, Eddy Vanoosthuyse, Antonio Saiote, Robert Spring, Ronald Van Spaendonck, Philippe Cuper, Luis Rossi, Walter Seyfarth, Eents Ottensamer a Alessandro Carbonare to name a few.
Between 2005-2017 he was member of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, where he had the opportunity to be directed by conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle, Guiseppe Sinoppoli and Zubin Mehta,
With maestro G. Dudamel, he participated in several international tours around Asia, America and Europe.
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For 10 years Carlos was a member of Trio de Corno di Bassetto ̈ Avila ̈ , with whom he did international tours in China, England and Austria.
He was also part of the Latin American Academy of Clarinet directed by Valdemar Rodriguez. He obtained first prize in edition IV & VIII of the Young Clarinet Festival, held by the same V. Rodriguez, performing the clarinet concertos from Mozart and Jean Francoix.
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Between 2013-2017 he was a permanent teacher of the Simon Bolivar Conservatory, where he teached the youngsters of “El Sistema” and the Latin American Clarinet Academy.
Within the framework of the Carnegie Hall festival, entitled "Voces de Latinoamerica", he premiered the works of Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Danilo Perez, in a recital called “Musica Nueva”.
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Carlos has been invited as a guest clarinet and bass clarinet player by the Belgium National Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Opera Vlaanderen and Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège.
Currently he holds the position solo clarinet at Frascati Symphonic and is member of the Venezuelan Clarinet Trio and the Belgian Reed Ensemble "Breathe”.