Evencio Castellanos
Encyclopedia
Evencio Castellanos Yumar (May 3, 1915 - March 16, 1984), was a Venezuela
n pianist
and classical musician.
Being born at the town of Cúa, Miranda state
, son of Pablo Castellanos and Matilde Yumar, from young age starts his musical formation along with his father who was organist and kapellmeister
at the Nuestra Señora del Rosario church.
In 1938 entered at the Superior School of Music of Caracas (today called "José Angel Lamas"), learning from teachers Pardo Soublette, Carlos Áñez, Juan Bautista Plaza
and Vicente Emilio Sojo
.
On July 4, 1944 he graduated as teacher-composer, and was part of the first generation of Vicente Emilio Sojo's students, whose compositions were oriented by the nationalist tendency. In 1946 he was designated director of the University Choir of the Central University of Venezuela
, for which he composed the university anthem, based on the words of Luis Pastori and Tomás Alfaro Calatrava.
Between August 1947 and September 1949, he received a scholarship to New York City
, to study piano with Carlos Buhler. On his return to Venezuela, he became member of the Caracas Cathedral
choir, executing the organ
, and being Chapel Teacher. He was also a member of the Orfeón Lamas
and instrumentalist of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra
.
Parallel to his life as a musician, he served as piano instructor (1938–1947), piano professor (1945–1947), key
professor (1946–1972), professor of musical composition (1957–1964) and director of the Superior School of Music (1965–1972). Vice-president of the Board of directors of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra (1950–1951 and 1959), member of the Consultative Superior Council of the orchestra, president of the Venezuela Association de Authors and Composers (1958–1959), director-founder of the Collegium Musicum de Caracas
, director of the Student Orchestra of the Central University of Venezuela
(1969) and director of the Experimental Orchestra of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, to which directed the inaugural concert on May 15, 1970.
From 1979 to 1984, served as adviser of the Latin American Institute of Musical Studies.
Throughout his musical career, Castellanos obtained several awards and recognitions, such as the Teresa Carreño Prize, by the Caracas Athenaeum
for his Tribute to Teresa Carreño
in 1952, the National Prize of Music for his symphonic poem Santa Cruz de Pacairigua in 1954, and the National Prize of Music for the oratorio Tirano Aguirre in 1962.
Castellanos died in Caracas
on March 16, 1984 at the age of 68.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and classical musician.
Being born at the town of Cúa, Miranda state
Cúa
Cúa is a small city capital of the Urdaneta Municipality, located in the Miranda State in the north of Venezuela with an altitude of 490 m...
, son of Pablo Castellanos and Matilde Yumar, from young age starts his musical formation along with his father who was organist and kapellmeister
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
at the Nuestra Señora del Rosario church.
In 1938 entered at the Superior School of Music of Caracas (today called "José Angel Lamas"), learning from teachers Pardo Soublette, Carlos Áñez, Juan Bautista Plaza
Juan Bautista Plaza
Juan Bautista Plaza Alfonso was a classical composer. He began studies in medicine at the Central University of Venezuela but, with time, left in order to dedicate himself to music. His first teacher was Jesus Maria Suárez. He studied in Rome from 1920 and 1923 and obtained the title of...
and Vicente Emilio Sojo
Vicente Emilio Sojo
Vicente Emilio Sojo was a Venezuelan musicologist, educator and composer, born in Guatire, Miranda.- Biography :...
.
On July 4, 1944 he graduated as teacher-composer, and was part of the first generation of Vicente Emilio Sojo's students, whose compositions were oriented by the nationalist tendency. In 1946 he was designated director of the University Choir of the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
, for which he composed the university anthem, based on the words of Luis Pastori and Tomás Alfaro Calatrava.
Between August 1947 and September 1949, he received a scholarship to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, to study piano with Carlos Buhler. On his return to Venezuela, he became member of the Caracas Cathedral
Caracas Cathedral
The Caracas Cathedral is the seat of the archdiocese of Caracas, located in one corner of the Plaza Bolívar in Caracas, Venezuela. The colonial chapel of the Trinity is notable because it is where the parents and wife of Simón Bolívar are buried.-History:...
choir, executing the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, and being Chapel Teacher. He was also a member of the Orfeón Lamas
Orfeón Lamas
A fundamental institution for the modernity of choral music in Venezuela, was the Orfeón Lamas, being pioneering at this genre and in the compilation of Venezuelan popular songs, before it, any choral group in Venezuela exist....
and instrumentalist of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra
Venezuela Symphony orchestra
The Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela was founded by a group of 26 professional musicians met at the invitation of the maestro Vicente Emilio Sojo following the dissolution on January, 1929 of the Union Filarmónica Nacional.This meeting took place January 15, 1930 in the Caracas Musical Declamation...
.
Parallel to his life as a musician, he served as piano instructor (1938–1947), piano professor (1945–1947), key
Key (instrument)
A key is a specific part of a musical instrument. The purpose and function of the part in question depends on the instrument.On instruments equipped with tuning machines, violins and guitars, for example, a key is part of a tuning machine. It is a worm gear with a key shaped end used to turn a cog,...
professor (1946–1972), professor of musical composition (1957–1964) and director of the Superior School of Music (1965–1972). Vice-president of the Board of directors of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra (1950–1951 and 1959), member of the Consultative Superior Council of the orchestra, president of the Venezuela Association de Authors and Composers (1958–1959), director-founder of the Collegium Musicum de Caracas
Collegium Musicum de Caracas
Collegium Musicum de Caracas was a Venezuelan musical group, founded by Evencio Castellanos in the 1960s, was conformed by a distinguished number of solo musicians, under the direction of Gonzalo Castellanos....
, director of the Student Orchestra of the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
(1969) and director of the Experimental Orchestra of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, to which directed the inaugural concert on May 15, 1970.
From 1979 to 1984, served as adviser of the Latin American Institute of Musical Studies.
Throughout his musical career, Castellanos obtained several awards and recognitions, such as the Teresa Carreño Prize, by the Caracas Athenaeum
Caracas Athenaeum
The Caracas Athenaeum is a cultural institution centred on the arts. It is currently located in Macaracuay, after having been in the area of Los Caobos, Caracas, Venezuela. The building hosts two theatre auditoriums, a concert hall, a library, a gallery, a cinema, rehearsal rooms, a café, as well...
for his Tribute to Teresa Carreño
Teresa Carreño
María Teresa Carreño García de Sena was a Venezuelan pianist, singer, composer, and conductor.Born into a musical family, she was at first taught by her father, then by Mathias, Louis Moreau Gottschalk and Anton Rubinstein and her talent was recognized at an early age...
in 1952, the National Prize of Music for his symphonic poem Santa Cruz de Pacairigua in 1954, and the National Prize of Music for the oratorio Tirano Aguirre in 1962.
Castellanos died in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
on March 16, 1984 at the age of 68.