When José Luis Hernández-Estrada speaks about classical music, his eyes emanate a curious glow of excitement. “This music is a testament of humanity’s creative prowess. It stirs the imagination and makes us stronger,” he says.

The young and savvy classical musician enjoys performing for people everywhere. Connecting with audiences through the power of music is his reward. His talent and undeniable passion for the advancement of classical music have earned him national attention and critical acclaim.   

Since making his formal debut at age ten with the Tamaulipas State Symphony Orchestra, the Mexican-American musician, scholar, and educator, has performed extensively. In recent years, Hernandez-Estrada made his European debut with a premiere performance of Manuel Ponce’s Concierto Romantico with the Fürther Streichhölzer in Germany. In Mexico City, he performed with Mexico’s National Youth Orchestra to capacity audiences at the National Center for the Arts and the National Conservatory of Music. In Atlanta, he presented the world premiere performance of Thomas Ludwig’s Concerto for Piano. In Indianapolis, he appeared in recital at the prestigious DeHaan Arts Center with Latin America’s leading soprano Patricia Caicedo.  In Texas, he performed at Steinway Hall (Dallas) and appeared as a soloist with the Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Ian Hobson. He performed at the III Latin American Arts Festival (Fort Worth), IV Festival Internacional Tamaulipas (Mexico), Austin Chamber Music Festival 2005, and the II Festival Iberoamericano de las Artes (Puerto Rico). A pianist of ample versatility, he has performed as a collaborative musician in some of America’s most prestigious concert venues.

Winner of the 2000 TCU/Cliburn Piano Institute Concerto Competition and finalist of the 2003 Mexico City Philharmonic Instrumental Competition, his unique exploration of the piano repertoire and ability to communicate musical ideas set him apart as a pianist unlike any other. A staunch champion of the music of Mexican composer Manuel M. Ponce (1882-1948), he is regarded as an authoritative scholar and performer of the composer’s compositions.

An advocate of education, he has given a multitude of educational concerts in collaboration with the Mexican Ministry of Culture and the Van Cliburn Foundation’s Musical Awakenings® concert series. An award-winning public speaker, his enlightening performances both in English and Spanish have received critical acclaim and reached thousands of school-age children. On the occasion of Steinway & Sons' Legendary Pianos Tour, he had the rare honor of offering educational recitals showcasing the personal touring instruments of Vladimir Horowitz and Van Cliburn. An accomplished chamber musician, since 2003, he has served as a summer faculty member of the Austin Chamber Music Center. As founding teacher, he lead the inaugural class of the Van Cliburn Foundation’s After School Piano Lessons program, a newly established educational venture which benefits  underprivileged elementary school children in Fort Worth.

Throughout his career, he has collaborated with renowned conductors and musicians including Bernd Müller, Felicity Coltman, German Gutierrez, Duo Turgeon, Richard Kilmer, and others. He has performed in the master classes of John Owings, Peter Frankl, Gabriel Kwok, and Jorge Federico Osorio. An advocate of new music, he has presented the regional premieres of works by Edgar Valcarcel (Peru), Ann Rivers-Witherspoon (USA), Ricardo Llorca (Spain), and Cesar Guerra-Peixe (Brazil). Recently, Jose Luis was named the Third Prize Winner of the 2006 JK Hodges Contemporary Piano Performance Award.

During the upcoming concert seasons, Hernandez-Estrada will play and conduct Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 414 and return to Germany for a solo recital and performances of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. He will also be heard in recital at the prestigious Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago.
Winner of the 2004 TCU School of Music annual concerto competition, Hernández-Estrada was also a recipient of the 2003 University Leadership Award. As a result of his 2004 Mexican National Youth Prize Award nomination, Jose Luis received a Special Citation for Artistic Achievement, recognizing him as one of Mexico’s most distinguished young musicians and leaders in the Arts. In 2006, the Governor of the Mexican State of Tamaulipas presented him with the Tamaulipas State Youth Prize 2006.

Hernandez-Estrada holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (Cum Laude) from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. As a recipient of the prestigious Mexico’s FONCA Fellowship, he is currently pursuing a graduate degree at the Conservatori Liceu in Barcelona, Spain.

He is the founder and artistic director of the Festival International de Piano Reynosa (Mexico), an annual cultural even which presents some of the most outstanding young pianists of their generation through solo recitals, lectures, and educational concerts.

He was recently appointed as the PianoTexas International Festival and Academy’s Coordinator of Special Projects for Mexico and Latin America.

He attributes his success to the undying support of his family, friends,  and the expert guidance of Dr. Tamas Ungar.

Updated: October, 2006

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