ANTONIO ESPINAL

ANTONIO ESPINAL

PIANO | CHOIR

Antonio Espinal is an Orchestral Conductor (BA, National Conservatory of Music, MFA, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA), Choral conductor (MFA, CMU, Pittsburgh, PA) and a Pianist (BA with Honors, UNAM, Mexico). He made his Opera debut conducting ‘La Traviata”, in Mexico City at age 24. Prior to that, he was a Piano Faculty at the Mexico’s National Conservatory of Music. He is currently a Candidate of a DMA in orchestral conducting at the Benjamin T. Rome School of music, at the Catholic University of America.

Mr. Espinal worked at the NATIONAL OPERA COMPANY as a full-time accompanist under the baton of many international Opera conductors. He has participated in more than 70 Opera Productions at aspect of it: As an accompanist, prompter, assistant to the Stage Director, offstage bands director, choral director, and Conducting from the Pit. 

He had a personal invitation for an apprenticeship with Maestro Essa-Pekka Salonen with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, making his residence in LA for 10 years. He has conducted all major orchestras of Mexico, including the National Symphony of Mexico, and opera orchestras in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. 

In 2012 he was appointed CHORUS MASTER (Artistic Founding Director of the Teatro del Bicentenario Opera Chorus) in León, Guanajuato, Mexico preparing the chorus for 7 operas under the baton of international conductors. His work had rage reviews by the critics. 

A strong promoter of the Arts in Communities with kids at risk, he started his own non-profit organization “Harmonies Girls’ Choir”, who reached a high level of musicianship and performance. Prominent professional concerts included the “SAINT DENIS FESTIVAL” in Paris France (2007), recording the soundtrack for the film “Brownstones to Red Dirt” (2011), performing with Pop singer Demi Lovato at the ALMA Awards (2011). The group became an exclusive recording artist of French Recording label MILAN RECORDS. Many girls from this chorus were also private voice and piano students of maestro Antonio. As today there are at least 5 opera singers (one with a Master’s in Opera), several cantors in churches and even rock and Pop singers who emerged from his Studio. 

In Washington D.C. Maestro Espinal has work with local companies Teatro Lirico D.C. (conducting a full-staged production of “Los Gavilanes”) and with the Washington Opera Society. 

He has been appointed Artistic Director of “Opera in Movimiento A.C.” an International Opera Company (with Headquarters in Mexico). This company focus on presenting rare operas from the Baroque to XXI century operas. Mr. Espinal’s debut with the company took place on Summer 2019, Premiering Handel’s opera “ACI, GALATEA E POLIFEMO”, in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, with great reviews from the critics and public alike.

Antonio Espinal

PIANO | CHOIR