History
The Polytechnic University of Madrid Choir was founded in 1983, with José de Felipe Arnaiz as its first conductor. From the outset, the Rectorate provided the resources needed to establish the Choir as a key part of the University's commitment to promoting music both within UPM and in wider society.
Since its foundation, the Choir has made, and continues to make, an important cultural and social contribution to UPM, bringing together people from across the University community, different academic disciplines, schools and institutes in a shared artistic endeavour. Its concerts also bring together family members, friends, colleagues and the wider public, creating lasting personal connections.
Over the course of its history, the Choir has given numerous performances at local, national and international level, encompassing an exceptionally broad repertoire. These performances have been led by the Choir's successive conductors as well as distinguished guest conductors for symphonic works.
In addition to the concerts highlighted below, the Choir regularly takes part in official University ceremonies, both in the Paraninfo and at UPM's schools and faculties, at the request of the Rector.
Maestro José de Felipe was succeeded in 2006 by Antonio Fauró, principal conductor of the Teatro de la Zarzuela Choir since 1994.
Javier Corcuera has directed the UPM Choir since 2011, conducting more than 150 concerts during this period. Highlights include Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in three concert halls across Spain; Mendelssohn's Lobgesang at Vienna's Musikverein in 2013; Handel's Messiah at Madrid's Auditorio Nacional de Música; Mozart's Great Mass in C minor at Geneva's Victoria Hall; and Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem at Toledo Cathedral.
During the 2020–21 pandemic period, the Choir also recorded and produced five virtual concerts. In 2022 it performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the UPM student orchestra in a concert marking the University's 50th anniversary. The Choir's 40th-anniversary concert at the Auditorio Nacional de Música, featuring Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, was another major milestone.
Depending on the repertoire, the Choir's symphonic concerts have usually been conducted by its own conductors, while distinguished guest conductors have also been invited to lead particular works. These have included Odón Alonso, Enrique García Asensio, Sergiu Comissiona, Vladimir Spivacov, Antoni Ros Marbá, Cristóbal Halffter, Luis Antonio García Navarro, Maximiano Valdés, Josep Pons, Edmond Colomer, Andrés Salado, Javier Busto and José Ramón Encinar.
Choir Director
Javier Corcuera Martínez
He holds the Spanish Título de Profesor Superior de Canto and Título Superior de Dirección de Coro from the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Royal School of Music with the highest marks.
He currently directs and presents the Radio Clásica programme Armonías Vocales and also contributes to the station's concert production.
He is an Associate Professor at UPM, where he is responsible for the musical training and direction of the UPM Choir. With the Choir, he has conducted major works of the symphonic-choral repertoire including Handel's Messiah, Bach's St Matthew Passion, Christmas Oratorio and Magnificat, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 , Haydn's The Creation, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, Mendelssohn's Psalm 42, Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem, Dvořák's Stabat Mater, Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Fauré's Requiem, Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, Duruflé's Requiem and Orff's Carmina Burana.
He is also the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Orquesta Filarmónica de España, with which he has conducted works such as Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 6, Mahler's Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5, Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony, Arriaga's Symphony for Grand Orchestra, Bizet's Carmen Suites Nos. 1 and 2, Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio espagnol, Falla's El sombrero de tres picos and Noches en los jardines de España, among others.
He has also conducted such significant works as Mozart's Requiem, Verdi's Requiem, Haydn's Nelson Mass, Bruckner's Mass in E minor, Dvořák's Mass in D major, García Abril's Concierto de Gibralfaro, Mozart's Bastien und Bastienne, Cimarosa's Il maestro di cappella, Rossini's La cambiale di matrimonio, Barber's A Hand of Bridge, Bretón's La verbena de la paloma, Barbieri's El barberillo de Lavapiés, Serrano's Los claveles and Alma de Dios, Lleó's La corte del Faraón and Sorozábal's La del manojo de rosas.
He has conducted soloists of the calibre of Joaquín Achúcarro and Asier Polo.
He served as Principal Conductor of the RTVE Choir from 2015 to 2018, giving numerous choral concerts and preparing symphonic repertoire. This experience gave him a strong command of repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary styles. He has participated in major festivals including the Cuenca Religious Music Week, where he premiered Colomer's Magnificat, and the Granada Music and Dance Festival. He also gave the world premieres of Loidi's La Historia de los balleneros vascos and Elcano. He undertook two concert tours to Rome and Vatican City, and in June 2018 he assisted Maestro Mena in the recording of Falla's La vida breve with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the RTVE Choir.
In addition to his permanent positions, his expertise in vocal technique, interpretation and choral preparation has made him a regular guest with ensembles throughout Spain, as well as at large-scale participatory concerts. He is also frequently invited to teach choral conducting.
He has worked with ensembles including Coro y Orquesta de RTVE, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, Coro Nacional de España, Orquesta Barroca de Granada, La Spagna, Orquesta Metropolitana de Madrid, Joven Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid, Orquesta de Cámara de España, Orquesta Sinfónica Verum, Joven Orquesta Barroca de Andalucía and Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia.
Contact
For general enquiries about the choir, use the contact form.
For institutional enquiries relating to UPM Cultural Activities, please contact actividades.culturales@upm.es.
To request an audition, please use the audition form rather than the general contact form.