"You have a way of being present and always in command, but never disruptive; you allow the singers to shine. This is most impressive to me”. J. Šrámek (The Rose Ensemble)

Considered one of the boldest and most creative conductors nowadays, Marco Antonio García de Paz was born in Luanco (Asturias), studied violin and conduction at the Basque Country Music Centre ‘Musikene’. Among his professors are Peter Phillips, Gabriel Baltés, Johan Duijck, Lászlo Heltay and Javier Busto. He has more than 60 national and international awards: Best conductor in the International Competition ‘Prof. Georgi Dimitrov’ (Bulgaria) and ‘Internationale Koorwedstrijd van Vlaanderen’ (Belgium); twice winner of the ‘Gran Premio Nacional de Canto Coral’.

He is the conductor and founder of the choir ‘El León de Oro’, with which he has performed throughout Spain, Europe, Africa and the USA, Main Conductor of the Youth Choir of Andalusia since 2019 and Main Conductor of the RTVE Choir since 2021.

Marco Antonio is regularly invited to conduct numerous professional choirs such as the Coro RTVE, Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid, Coro de Madrigalistas de Bellas Artes de Ciudad de México or Coro Nacional de España. Renowned professor, he has taught at the Milano Choral Academy and the Conservatory of the Principality of Asturias. He has performed in the festivals in Granada, Úbeda and Baeza, Seville, Salamanca, León, SMR Cuenca, Música-Musika de Bilbao, Festival de Música Española de Cádiz, Otoño Musical Soriano, Arte Sacro de Madrid, Conciertos del Auditorio de Oviedo, Early Music Morella, cycles of the CNDM, National Heritage Concerts, Donostiarra Musical Fortnight, as well as numerous venues abroad.

He has worked with artists such as Leopold Hager, Friedrich Haider, Jordi Savall, Pablo González, Christoph König, Jaime Martín, Pinchas Steinberg, Manuel Hernández Silva and Peter Phillips.

He has recently conducted the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, Orquesta Oviedo Filarmonía, and the Orquesta Joven Barroca de Andalucia. Among his immediate projects stand out his appearances as conductor with the German Requiem of Brahms and the Youth Orchestra and Choir of Andalusia, collaborations with Tallis Scholars and Peter Phillips, concerts in Mexico City and activities with the ‘Accademia corale Italiana’. He premieres new works regularly and records for labels such as Hyperion, Naxos or RTVE Música.

Recipients

  • 2008
    Grand Prize “Città di Arezzo” 56th International Polyphonic Contest “Guido d’Arezzo” (Italy)
  • 2003
    Winner of the «Grand National Singing Award»