Juanjo Mercadal (Clarinet)

 

Clarinet soloist of the Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona since 1984.

 

Born in Menorca in a family of great musical tradition, he begins studying clarinet at the age of 9 under the guidance of his grandfather, continuing his musical studies at the Music Conservatory of the Balearic Islands (with the teacher Pascual V. Martinez) and later at the Conservatori Municipal de Música  de Barcelona (with Maestro Juli Panyella) where, in 1987, obtained the superior title of Music in the speciality of clarinet performance. Parallel to his regular studies, he received master classes from José Tordera, Manuel Gutiérrez  and attended several clarinet and chamber music workshops, among others, the Bach Akademie Stuttgart, working with professors such as Ulf Rödenhauser, Klaus Thunemann and Ingo Goritzki .

 

In 1976 he was selected to be a member of the JONDE (Spanish National Youth Orchestra), which offered him the opportunity to participate in different gatherings and tours in Spain.

 

He has collaborated with various orchestras and ensembles such as the Balearic Symphony Orchestra, Vallès Symphony Orchestra, Mediterranean Symphony, and the Barcelona Symphonic Band. He has also participated in numerous CD recordings as well as radio and television recordings. He has complemented his artistic activity participating in various chamber groups and performing as soloist (with the Empordà Chamber Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Sa Nostra, the Academy Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, National Orchestra Radio Bulgaria, Orquestra de Sant Cugat /Barcelona, Niš Symphony Orchestra/Serbia....).

 

As a clarinet professor, he has been teaching at the Conservatori de Música de les Illes Balears, the Studio Maria Teresa of Premia de Mar, and the School of Music of Premia de Dalt, where he was also the director from 1987-1989. He has also taught in several courses and music workshops, among them the "International Summer Music courses" in Menorca, where he was also a member of the sponsor and organization team. He has also taught clarinet and chamber music in the Academy Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu, where he was also a member of the Artistic Committee and coordinator of the wind professors. From September 2012 to April 2014 he taught at the Barenboim-Said Foundation (Ramallah - Palestine) and at the music school "Fusió" in Sant Cugat del Vallès. He has also been teacher at "Academia Ibero-Americana do Clarinete" (Castelo de Paiva - Portugal). He combines his professional career as a performer with the management of the family business, Brotons & Mercadal Music Publishing Company (since 2001). Currently he is also president of the "Gremi de editorials de música de Catalunya" (Guild of music publishers of Catalonia). 

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