José Vilaplana Herruzo
Born in Buñol (Valencia), in March of 1987. He started his musical studies when
he was 7 years old under the guidance of Gabriel Jimenez in the Musical Society
“la Artística” of Buñol. His childhood was characterized by an intense musical life,
playing in different ensembles, studying with a diverse variety of teachers,
attending summer courses and granted in various competitions, namely, first
prize in the “Concurso de Jóvenes Intérpretes ciudad de Buñol” and in the
“Concurso Nacional ACCEMIP” organized in Valencia.
Thanks to the unconditional support of his family and the generosity of some
institutions, namely IVM (Institute of Music of Valencia) and Ibercaja, who help
him economically he was able to finished the bachelor’s degree at the
“Conservatorio Superior de Aragón” with Javier Sapiña and the Master’s degree
with distinction at the “Haute Ecole de Musique de Geneve” in Switzerland under
the instruction of the great Franco Petracchi. Furthermore, he was awarded with
the “Henry Golliet” prize in order to reward his merits as an outstanding student.
During his ungraduated studies he collaborated continuously with youth
orchestras such as, the “Joven Orquesta Generalitat Valenciana” (JOGV), the
“European Union Youth Orchestra” (EUYO), and the Gustav Mahler
Jugendorchester (GMJO).
He started working immediately after his graduation as a substitute professor in
the “Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Ourense” in Galicia, where not only
the double bass class, but the orchestra as well were assigned to him. Few
months later, in September 2009, he won his first professional audition in the
“Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra, Pablo Sarasate" as a Tutti Double Bass player
for two entire seasons. The orchestra was conducted by Ernest Matinez-
Izquierdo and Antoni Wit as the principal guest conductor.
He was invited to study in the Janacek Academy of Brno under the guidance of
Miloslav Jelinek after winning two international competitions during the summer
of 2011, the “Concorso Internazionale di Contrabbasso Italo Caimmi-Guido
Gallignani” in Bertinoro and the “Concours International de contrebasse Edouard
Nanny” in Capbreton. Those years of further studies were supported economally
by two institutions, IVM and Hulencourt Art Project.
During those years, he combined his studies working as a Solo Double Bass in
the “Hulencourt Soloist Chamber Orchestra” conducted by Guy Braunstein,
where he had the chance to perform the second G.Bottesini’s concerto as a
soloist, sharing scene with great artists such as Ramon Ortega Quero, Gilad Karni
and Guy Braunstein. Additionally, he was awarded in several competitions,
namely, first prize in Competition “Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf” in Slovakia, first
prize in both, “Franz Simandl” International Competition and International
Competition Brno in Czech Republic and third prize in International Double Bass
Symposium in Poland.
In 2013, he won the audition for Double Bass Tutti at the “Royal Theatre of La
Monnaie” in Brussels and he has been a member of this orchestra since then.
His passion for music has led him to continue further studies with Korneel Le
Compte in the Brussels Conservatory, who helped him to realize the power that
music possesses to change human’s hearts and the important role of music for
creating a more compassionate and just societies. Nowadays, Jose is combining
his work at the opera with studies of Theology in the KU LEUVEN.
In addition to the orchestras named above he also has collaborated with New
Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra
Philarmonie Royal de Liege, Brussels Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta
Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico, Orquesta de la Universidad de Guanajuato,
Brussels Philarmonie, Orquesta Municipal de Valencia, Orquesta Les Arts de
Valencia among others. Furthermore, he has played under the baton of important
conductors such as, Sir Colin Davis, Herbert Blomstedt, Lorin Maazel, Enrique García Asensio, J.M. Cervera Collado, Lutz Colher, Jürgen Kussmaul, François-
Xavier Roth or Patrick Lange with renowned soloists such as Miloslav
Rostopovich, Vadim Repin, Leonidas Kavakos, Nikolaj Znaider among others, at
important concert halls like Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Koncerthaus in Berlin,
Palacio Bellas Artes in Mexico or the Albert Hall in London.
