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If you have speakers on your computer, you can hear online samples of some of their performances. In addition, short videos are available here and here
Metales M5 is Mexico's leading brass quintet. Since its founding in Morelia, the capital of Michoacan (in the Central Highlands between Guadalajara and Mexico City), the five gentlemen of Metales M5 have been playing a wide variety of music: Baroque and contemporary, selections from opera, blues, pop, and movie soundtracks, and folk music from Spain, Mexico and other Latin American countries. .
Since early 2005, the group has performed over 250 concerts throughout Mexico, including a recent 28-concert tour sponsored by Fondo Regional para la Cultura y las Artes del Centro Occidente. Metales M5, which performs regularly in the Morelia Cathedral, in recent seasons has presented two national premieres for brass quintet and symphony orchestra, participated in the 17th International Festival of Music of Morelia, and inaugurated the International Festival "Rosario Castellanos" in Comitan, Chiapas. During 2008, M5 made its North American debut with performances in Texas, Nebraska, Vermont, Alberta (Canada), with the Pueblo (Colorado) Symphony, and during a fall U.S. tour of the Morelia Symphony Orchestra.
Each of the five members of M5 has an illustrious professional background with his respective brass instrument. Holding degrees from universities in Berlin, Mexico City and Zacatecas, the musicians have played in the symphony orchestras of Monterrey, Guanajuato, Acapulco, Porto (Portugual), Mexico City, Aguascalientes, and are currently soloists with the Morelia Symphony Orchestra. With their unique style which combines fine chamber music with popular entertainment, Metales M5 is the most incomparable brass quintet in Mexico. Fresh, funny and extraordinary!
Alexander Freund - Trumpet
Born in Germany, Alex obtained titles from the Universities of Arts of Berlin and Saarbrücken where he studied with Bob Platt, Konradin Groth (Berlin Philharmonic) and Peter Leiner (Das Rennquintett). He has participated in courses with Hens Lindemann, Allan Vizutti, Tom Morrison, Hannes Läubin, James Thompson and the Canadian Brass. He has been invited to play by such well-known orchestras as the Berlin State Opera, Semper Opera Dresden, the Cologne Radio Orchestra, Tenerife Symphony Orchestra and others. He obtained contracts with the German Theater Berlin, Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in Berlin, the Opera and Philharmonic of Bremen, Germany, and also with the symphony orchestras of Monterrey and Mineria in Mexico. He has performed as a soloist in Mexico, Korea, and various countries of Europe.
Alex is currently principal trumpet of the Morelia Symphony Orchestra and trumpet professor at the Conservatorio de las Rosas of Morelia, Guanajuato University and the Ollin Yolitztli School of Music in Mexico City.
Oscar Villegas - Trumpet
Originally from Santa Catarina del Monte, State of México, Oscar studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City under maestro Francisco Peralta (National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico). He has participated in several master courses with Philip Smith (New York Philharmonic), Pierre Dutot (Paris Conservatory), Boyd Hood (LA Philharmonic) and Uwe Köller (German Brass), among others. He has played with The State of Mexico Symphony, the Symphony Orchestra of Xalapa and the Guanajuato Symphony Orchestra and obtained a contract with the Acapulco Symphony Orchestra.
Oscar currently holds the position of co-principal trumpet in the Morelia Symphony Orchestra with which he has also performed as a soloist.
Juan Carlos Quiterio Miguel - French Horn
In his birthplace of Mexico City, Juan Carlos played in the "Cuajimalpa" at the age of 7 and later in the "José Pablo Moncayo" - Youth Orchestra. He studied french horn in the National School of Music (UNAM) with Elizabeth Rising Kinsey (Principal OFUNAM). Juan Carlos took master classes with well-known musicians, as Guelfo Nalli, Radovan Vladcovic, Martin Hackleman, Jon Gustely, German Brass and Canadian Brass. He has a long history in chamber music, playing in various groups such as the ensemble CONTEMPO. He played principal horn in the State of Mexico youth orchestra in Toluca for several years and was regularly invited to the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra in Toluca. Since May 2007 he has been co-principal horn in the Michoacán Symphony Orchestra in Morelia. With M5 he took classes with Fred Mills, Jens Lindemann (both formerly of Canadian Brass), Jim Thompson (Eastman School of Music) and Andrew Hitz (Boston Brass).
Fernando Islas Melendez - Trombone
Fernando was born in Los Reyes Acozac in the state of Mexico and gained his degree at the National Conservatoire of Music. He has participated in master classes with Christian Lindberg, Alain Trudel and Joseph Alessi (New York Philarmonic). He won first place in the chamber ensemble competition at the National Conservatoire of Music.
Fernando has been principal trombone of the following orchestras: State of Hidalgo, Guanajuato and Puebla. Between 2003 and 2005 he was princpal trombone of the Public Security Symphonic Band. He has been invited to play with the Symphony Orchestras of Mexico City, Toluca, Monterrey, International Music Festival Orchestra of Morelia and Chamber Orchestra of Bellas Artes, among others.
José Lopez Juárez - Tuba
Born in San Jerónimo Amanalco, Texcoco, José studied his favorite instrument, the tuba, at the National Conservatory of Music and at the Music School of the Culture Centre "Ollin Yolitztli" in Mexico City with Erasto Vázquez and Dwight Sullinger (Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra). He has participated in workshops and master classes with such well-known artists as Alan Trudel (Canada) and members of the Meridian Arts Ensemble and the San Luis Brass Quintet. For two years he toured Mexico with the brass quintet, Raza de Bronce. With a fine reputation among many orchestras and musicians throughout Mexico, he has played with groups in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Acapulco, Xalapa, Monterrey, and Guanajuato. Since 2002 José has been principal tuba player with the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Hidalgo in Pachuca.