Birthplace: Barquisimeto, Venezuela (220 miles west of Caracas)
Birthdate: January 26, 1981
Family: He is the son of a trombonist and a voice teacher
Orchestras:
- Began his tenture as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (2009)
- Works with the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra (YOLA), established in 2007 by the LA Philharmonic and modeled after “El Sistema” in Venezuela
- Named the 11th Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (2007), replacing Esa-Pekka Salonen (who had been music director for 17 years)
- Became principal conductor of Sweden’s Gothenberg Symphony (2007)
- Debuted with the Dresden Straatskapelle and the Boston Symphony (2006)
- Debuted with the Israel Philharmonic, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, London’s Philharmonica and (U.S. debut) with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (2005)
- Became music director of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra (a product of “El Sistema”)(1999)
Distinctions:
- Made Time magazine’s list “100 Most Influential People in the World” (2009)
- The Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra was granted Spain`s prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in Spain (2008)
- Dudamel was awarded the 2007 Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award for Young Artists (2008)
- Awarded the “Q Prize” along with his mentor Dr. Abreu (2008) from Harvard University for extraordinary service to children
- Won the first prize at the Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition in Bamberg, Germany (Bamberger Symphoniker Gustav)(2004); this garnered him global attention
Highlights:
- Launched his tenure at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2009 with a program including the premiere of “City Noir” by American composer John Adams and Mahler's First Symphony
- Led La Scala Theatre orchestra through a first rehearsal of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony (2006)
Early Experience:
- Began his career as a violinist
- Rose through "El Sistema" (the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras) a visionary music education program in Venezuela. The program was created in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu, a Venezuelan conductor, economics professor and former congressional deputy. It targets children (mostly living in slums).
Gustavo Dudamel's Recordings:
- Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique and Bartok Concerto for Orchestra with the LA Philharmonic (released on iTunes)
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 with the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra (SBYO) and Francesca da Rimini (2009)
- Fiesta with the SBYO (2008)
- Mahler: Symphony No. 5 with the SBYO (2007)
- Beethoven: Symphonies No. 5 & 7 with the SBYO (2006)
Additional Tid-Bits on Gustavo Dudamel:
- He has a photographic memory
- A local LA hot dog stand sells “Dude Dogs” in honor of him
- LAPhil.com has a Dudamel inspired conducting game
