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NEW HORIZONS
SYMPHONY
at New Mexico State University
Jorge Martinez-Rios
Music Director and Conductor
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A Grammy Award-winning artist nominated for two other Grammys, conductor Jorge Martinez-Rios studied viola and piano at the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, Mexico. In 2003, he completed his Master of Music degree in Viola Performance at Western Michigan University. In 2007, he completed another Master of Music Degree in chamber music and studied conducting under the instruction of Dr. Frank Wiley. Jorge Martinez-Rios has conducted the Contemporary Music Ensemble in Morelia Mexico, Conservatorio de Las Rosas Chamber Orchestra, Camerata de Coahuila, and the NMSU Philharmonic Orchestra.
Martinez specializes in chamber music and he is the violist and founding member of the La Catrina Quartet, which has been hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as "wonderful ambassadors for music." He has performed in Germany, United Kingdom, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Aruba, El Salvador, and all over the United States. Recent appearances include Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Symphony Space in New York City; Meany Hall World-Series in Seattle; Chicago Center for the Arts; UCLA Concert Series; Festival Internacional in Chihuahua, Mexico; Palacio de Bellas Artes and National Center for the Arts in Mexico City; San Miguel de Allende Music Festival and Festival Internacional Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico.
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He has recorded over 10 albums. In 2012, he was a featured artist on the Latin Grammy Winning Recording of Seresta for Double Quartet by Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone with the Cuarteto Latinoamericano. During the same year, he was invited by the National Endowment for the Arts in Mexico to record the String Trio and the Sonata for Viola and Piano as part of the Moncayo Compilation Project. In 2014, he was nominated for another Latin Grammy for the recording of String Quartet No. 2 by Cuban Composer Yalil Guerra. He is currently nominated for a 2018 Latin Grammy for the recording of String Quartet No. 3 (In memoriam Ludwig van Beethoven) by the same composer.
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Martinez is Associate Professor at the New Mexico State University Department of Music, principal violist of the Las Cruces Symphony and the San Antonio Chamber Orchestra, and he has a busy performing, conducting, and recording agenda.
Dr. Marianna Gabbi
Music Director and Conductor
(2012-2018)
Dr. Marianna Gabbi came out of retirement to conduct the New Horizons Symphony in the fall of 2012 until her death at age 90 in 2018. Both the orchestra and the community benefited greatly from her past experience, musicianship, style, and sense of humor.
She conducted the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra from 1975 until 1999. Her local and state awards include "Marianna Gabbi Day" (1982), two Governor's awards for Outstanding Women (1989), and Excellence in the Arts (1997). She conducted the Beijing Central and Beijing Conservatory orchestras and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. She also performed in Italy, France, Germany, England, Switzerland, and Mexico. Her fame was international.
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