Juan Martínez

Juan Martínez was born in Mexico, and completed his Bachelors Degree at Xalapa Faculty of Music. He studied a Diploma of Advanced Percussion Studies with Tambuco Percussion Ensemble in Mexico City. Thanks to FONCA scholarship he completed a Masters Degree at Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague, Holland. Juan has participated on two International Percussion Festivals in Mexico City with XOC Ensemble. On 1999 won the First Prize at National Solo Marimba Competition in Chiapas, Mexico. On 2001 was awarded with the First Prize at International Marimba Duo Competition, Belgium 2001 with XOC Duo. As a soloist, he has been working very close with young composers, premiering during the last 2 years 6 new works written for him. The list includes a virtuoso solo for Triangle Amplified and the new piece by Daniel Zea "Te Masca" ("It bites you") for Maracas and live electronics, premiered last june at Maison de la Radio Suisse-Romande, Switzerland.