Jose Puello

José Guillermo Puello is a composer from the Dominican Republic based in Manchester, England. His music has a distinctive character that comes from his diverse educational background. Studying in a French Lycée in a Spanish-speaking countr y, José Guillermo was always in-between two cultures, which gave him a unique perspective and influenced him as a person and as a composer. In 2012, he was awarded the ‘Premio Personalidad Cultural 2011’ by the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic. José Guillermo started playing the flute from the age of nine and became the first flute of the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic aged 15. He went on to do a Bachelors of Music at the University of Birmingham in 2006 where he specialised in composition and French orchestral music. He continued his studies at the University of Manchester where he completed a Masters and a Ph.D. in Composition under the supervision of Dr Camden Reeves in 2010 and 2015, respectively. José Guillermo has an idiosyncratic musical language that combines Latin American culture, European concert music and theatricality, and creates a unique experience for the audience. In his later works, José Guillermo has used Dominican folk music, European composition techniques, movement on stage, stage layouts and lights to create a multi-sensory experience that challenges the traditions of concert music. José Guillermo has been performed in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic by professional and amateur ensembles, including Psappha, Manchester Chamber Choir, Toy Piano Composers, the University of Manchester Chamber Orchestra and Trio Atem. Manchester Camerata performed Cojuelo Spirit at the Bridgewater Hall in May 2010. The same piece was also performed by the Constella Orchestra during the World Event Young Ar tists in 2012 at the

Djanogly Recital Hall. His music has also been programmed in various festivals including the New Wind Festival, FutureEverything and the Atlantic Music Festival. José Guillermo received commissions from the North West New Music Festival,The Fourth Wall Ensemble, soundSCAPE Exchange and the Royal Northern College of Music Saxophone Ensemble. As part of his residency with the National Youth Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, he was commissioned to write an orchestral piece which was premiered in August 2014. José Guillermo has also collaborated with theatre-makers, dancers and choreographers resulting in pieces for Turn Festival 2015 and for Re:Con Festival 2015.