Alonso Toro
- Composer
Alonso Toro Martinez (Caracas 1963)
Venezuelan composer and saxophone player, with a degree in Biology from the Venezuelan Central University. He began his musical studies as a bassoonist of the Venezuelan Youth Symphony under Filiberto Núñez, and became a member of the renowned Simón Bolívar symphony orchestra, as bassoonist and saxophone player. Mr Toro was appointed director of the saxophone department of the Venezuelan Conservatory.
With a solid training in both classical music and Jazz, following courses at Indiana University under Eugene Rousseau, Alonso Toro started playing in festivals with his jazz band, jamming with renowned players such as Dizzy Gillespie and Paquito DE Rivera, among others.
Mr. Toro has been awarded special composition prizes in Venezuela for his symphonic works, and has been a regular recipient of the coveted local ANDA awards for his work in television commercials (7 Gold medals and more than 25 mentions). Since he began his intensive work in music for television and films in 1990, Alonso Toro has produced music for more than 700 spots, dozens of TV films and documentaries, as well as several long feature films, one of which was awarded the first prize of the Latin American Film Festival in Los Angeles in 2001. Twice winner of "Best Music" at the Mérida Venezuelan Film Festival. Best Soundtrack Award, Trieste Latin American Film Festival-Italy. XXXI edition.
Abroad, his work has received several important awards: Gold Medal, 36th Annual New York Festivals Competition, 1993; Promax Gold Award to the "HBO Latin America Redesign 2000"; BDA Judge's Choice Award 2000 BDA Latin America Gold Award; FIAP 2001 Buenos Aires "Silver Sun" award.
His personal creative work has not been interrupted by his work in Television; Mr. Toro has published five CDs with compositions for chamber ensembles, electronic music and for his musical group. He is also a very active producer of Classical and Modern music recordings in Venezuela.
Venezuelan composer and saxophone player, with a degree in Biology from the Venezuelan Central University. He began his musical studies as a bassoonist of the Venezuelan Youth Symphony under Filiberto Núñez, and became a member of the renowned Simón Bolívar symphony orchestra, as bassoonist and saxophone player. Mr Toro was appointed director of the saxophone department of the Venezuelan Conservatory.
With a solid training in both classical music and Jazz, following courses at Indiana University under Eugene Rousseau, Alonso Toro started playing in festivals with his jazz band, jamming with renowned players such as Dizzy Gillespie and Paquito DE Rivera, among others.
Mr. Toro has been awarded special composition prizes in Venezuela for his symphonic works, and has been a regular recipient of the coveted local ANDA awards for his work in television commercials (7 Gold medals and more than 25 mentions). Since he began his intensive work in music for television and films in 1990, Alonso Toro has produced music for more than 700 spots, dozens of TV films and documentaries, as well as several long feature films, one of which was awarded the first prize of the Latin American Film Festival in Los Angeles in 2001. Twice winner of "Best Music" at the Mérida Venezuelan Film Festival. Best Soundtrack Award, Trieste Latin American Film Festival-Italy. XXXI edition.
Abroad, his work has received several important awards: Gold Medal, 36th Annual New York Festivals Competition, 1993; Promax Gold Award to the "HBO Latin America Redesign 2000"; BDA Judge's Choice Award 2000 BDA Latin America Gold Award; FIAP 2001 Buenos Aires "Silver Sun" award.
His personal creative work has not been interrupted by his work in Television; Mr. Toro has published five CDs with compositions for chamber ensembles, electronic music and for his musical group. He is also a very active producer of Classical and Modern music recordings in Venezuela.