About
“The flute and the music of Alejandro Escuer is poetry we can almost see”
– Steve Conley, Art Director TIME Magazine
Alejandro Escuer (Mexico, 1963) is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist and flutist who has developed his own artistic and visual foundations on music interpretation and music composition, which have had an impact on his concerts and recordings. He is at ease performing as a soloist with symphony orchestra or solo recitals with piano, guitar, electronics, percussion, multimedia or ensemble. He has captivated audiences with his commitment to and delight in performing a unique selection of original works, ranging from the master pieces of all times to Latin American works and his own compositions and improvisations.
Alejandro Escuer has been a driving force in for the consolidation of new music in Mexico. He has been the artistic director and producer of more than one hundred and fifty concerts with more than 50 premieres from México, Japan, The U.S., Canada, Portugal, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Corea, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Australia, Denmark, among many others.
Escuer has received numerous prizes and awards, including a Rockefeller Foundation Award (1995), The National Interpreters Competition (first prize) 1986, 1987; The National Scholarship Award for the Arts (Universidad Naciona Autónoma de Méxicol) 1989, 1991, 1995; Líderes de México Honorary Award 1998, and many recognitions and fellowships from Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014).
He is also an active scholar (full time tenure faculty at the Escuela Nacional de Música of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México), and as such he has been giving master classes and concert-lectures across the American continent. Currently he is a visiting Fulbright professor at Indiana University and he has been invited by Columbia University, New York University, CalArts, and many other relevant institutions. As a soloist he has been able to achieve a highly individual reputation, constantly seeking to broaden the interpretive, aesthetic and acoustical possibilities of the flute. These ambitious goals have been achieved through his own explorations and discoveries of new expressive instrumental techniques, the use and development of new technology, a unique use of resources such as circular breathing, his own double bass and sub-contra bass flutes and in general, an innovative incorporation of musical means offered by different culture and traditions such as Pre-hispanic and Latin American.
Alejandro Escuer holds degrees from Conservatorio Nacional de Música (B.A.) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (B.A.). He obtained his soloist degree from Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam in 1991 (M.A./Uitvoerend Musicus), and earned a doctorate in 1995 from New York University (Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Music Performance). He has recorded more than twelve albums as Artistic Director. As a soloist he has recorded five albums: Jade Nocturno, Aqua, Aire Desnudo (http://www.quindecim.com.mx/); Folklore Imaginario, Flying www.cero-records.com which earned The Independent Music Awards 2014 for the best album of contemporary classical music.
“Wonderful flutist, dazzling musicianship… with luxurious rich sound”
New Music Conoisseur
Estreno de “Flow” para flauta y orquesta de David Dzubay en 2019, interpretado por la Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México bajo la dirección de Iván Del Prado.
Achievements
- National Composers Award: Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte 2018-2021 Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes
- Performing Arts Awards FONCA in numerous occasions since 1991 to the present
- Rockefeller Awards 1995 and 1998 for the Mexico-US Fund for Culture Flute
Performance and New Commissions - National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures Award 2012 Contemporary Music and Social Impact.
- Fulbright García Robles 2008 for an Artistic Residency Universidad de Indiana Luz Negra CD Recording
- National Medal for Excellence in Art Education FES Acatlán 2011
- National Performing Arts Awards MEXICO EN ESCENA since 2004 to the present.
- Mexican Artistic Delegate EXPO SHANGHAI 2010
- UNAM Award PAPIIT and PAPIME granted by the Arts and Humanities Commission UNAM 2006 and 2010
- Independent Music Award (US) for Best Classical Music Album 2014 CD “Flying” for flute and electronics
- Visiting Professor at Columbia University 2003-4
- Appointed advisor by the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature
- Leaders of the Future distinction granted by Líderes de México Magazine 1998.