Mimi Foster & Company

Murcia Youth Symphony Orchestra

• The Orquesta de Jóvenes Región de Murcia (The Murcia Youth Orchestra) is the doyen of Spanish youth orchestras, an educational program aimed at novel instrumentalists under 23 years of age, organized and supported by the Consejería de Educación y Cultura de la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia.
• Since it was formed, in 1981, hundreds of instrumentalists have taken part in it, and many of them went on to become professors in the main conservatories and orchestras in the country or finished their studies in prestigious schools in Europe and the United States.
• In October 2005 it received the honor of offering the first symphonic concert organized for the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
• Has toured extensively in Spain and Europe, and in 2002 made an 11-concert tour of China.
• Was filmed for the documentary Primer Acorde, which received a Goya Award in the year 1993.
• Has had guest conductors which include John Pamies, Eduardo Cifre, Ignacio Yepes, Jose Miguel Rodilla, Eric Feldbusch, Manuel Since its inception has been led by Benito Lauret, Jaime Belda and Cesar J. Álvarez.
• Virginia Martínez is the fourth and current lead conductor.

Virginia Martinez

• Born in Molina De Segura, Murcia, Spain, in 1979.
• Began study at age 6 at Molina de Segura Municipal Academy in Murcia, Spain.
• Studied piano under Pilar Valero and Pedro Valero, among others.
• Was a member of Molina’s Children’s Choir from age four until 13, when she took over as director of the Molina de Segura Municipal Children’s Choirs until 1999. During that time conducted diverse orchestras with Manuel Hernández Silva and Igor Dronov.
• Graduated from Murcia’s Superior Conservatory of Music and received a full scholarship to study orchestral conducting at Vienna Conservatory under Rienhard Schwarz and Georg Mark.
• In 2000 joined the Vienna Singverien Choir and toured throughout Austria and Europe.
• Completed her studies “Magna Cum Laude with special mention” in June 2003, conducting the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra in a graduation concert of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird.”
• Conducted the premier of a contemporary work by Markus Perisl, “Deux ex Machina” with with the Contemporary Music Ensemble of the Conservatory of Vienna in 2003.
• Named Youth of the Year in 2004, the same year she is named as assistant to Bertrand de Billy at Barcelon’s Gran Teatro del Liceu.
• Served as Assistant Conductor of the Barcelona Symphony and National Orchestra of Catalonia, while also acting as artistic director of the orchestra of Catalonia’s Superior School of Music.
• Together with Yaron Traub, named Assistant of the Valencia Orchestra for 2006/07 season.
• Highlighted as one the top 100 young European talents by the distinguished European Regions Committee.