She is the founder and conductor of the LDO´s Children Choir and AURUM female choir, with which she has won several international prizes such as Tolosa, Debrecen, Varna, Torrevieja, Cantonigrós, Arezzo, Rimini and Montreux.
She is a singer and technical coach of “El Leon de Oro” from the very beginning in 1996. She has also obtained the award for “Best Choral Direction” at the “60 Guido d’Arezzo Polyphonic Contest” (Italy) in 2012 and at the «54 Montreux Choral Festival» (Switzerland) in 2018.
She is usually required to give choral conducting courses and workshops for conductors of children or youth choirs.
Marco Antonio García de Paz Choral and Symphonic Conductor
Marco Antonio García de Paz (Luanco, Asturias) is one of the leading figures in today’s Spanish choral scene and a conductor steadily expanding into the symphonic-choral repertoire. His career combines profound musical sensitivity with an exceptional ability to lead both vocal ensembles and orchestral formations.
He is the founder and artistic director of El León de Oro, an internationally acclaimed ensemble with which he has toured across Europe, Africa and the Americas. Since 2019 he has been conductor of the Andalusian Youth Choir, and in 2024 he took on the direction of the Acadèmia Vocal CdM in Valencia. Between 2021 and 2024 he was principal conductor of the RTVE Choir, an institution with which he continues to collaborate actively.
His versatility and expressiveness at the helm of symphonic groups have led him to conduct orchestras such as the RTVE Symphony Orchestra and Choir, the Córdoba Orchestra, the Oviedo Filarmonía, the Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra and the Andalusian Youth Orchestra, tackling a repertoire ranging from major choral works to purely orchestral programmes. His current schedule includes engagements with the Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra, the Palau de la Música in Valencia, international festivals in Mexico City, Hong Kong, Granada and Santander, and collaborations with artists such as Peter Phillips and The Tallis Scholars.
As an educator, he has taught at the Milano Choral Academy and at the Higher Conservatoire of the Principality of Asturias, and he is frequently invited to deliver masterclasses and seminars.
Trained in violin and conducting at Musikene, his education was enriched by working with figures such as Peter Phillips, Gabriel Baltés, Johan Duijck, László Heltay and Javier Busto.
Winner of more than 60 national and international competitions, he has received awards including Best Conductor in contests in Bulgaria and Flanders, and he is a two-time winner of the Spanish National Grand Prize for Choral Singing.
García de Paz has appeared at the foremost Spanish festivals —SMR Cuenca, Quincena Musical Donostiarra, Música-Musika, Festival de Música Española de Cádiz, among many others— as well as on leading stages in Spain and abroad. He collaborates regularly with labels such as Hyperion, Naxos and RTVE Música, and is a committed advocate of contemporary creation through premieres and commissions.
His conducting is distinguished by interpretative depth, technical rigour and an inspiring energy that resonates with both musicians and audiences.
Since its first years of life this children´s choir has been invited to many choral festivals in the region, as well as prestigious national competitions.
It has won first prizes in several national competitions such as the XXVII National Habaneras Contest of Totana (Murcia) in 2007, and the International Contest of Habaneras and Polyphony of Torrevieja (Alicante) in 2004 and 2008.
The Peques LDO Choir has been internationally awarded:
4th prize in the 28th International Choral Contest “Prof. Georgi Dimitrov “in Varna (Bulgaria) 2005.
2nd Prize in the 43rd Choral Competition of Tolosa (Basque Country) 2011.
3rd prize at the Béla Bartók 25th International Choir Competition in Debrecen (Hungary) 2012, one of the most important Contemporary Music Contests in Europe.
2nd prize at the 31st Cantonigrós Music Festival in Vic (Catalonia) 2013.
3rd prize in the 9th Concorso corale internazionale Citta di Rimini (Italy) 2015.
2nd prize at the 54th Montreux Choral Festival (Switzerland) 2018, Audience Award and Best Management Award.
It has collaborated with professional orchestras of Asturias (Oviedo Filarmonía, Orquesta de “Los Adioses”) performing works such as “La Pasión según San Mateo” by J.S. Bach or the recording of “Otello” by G. Verdi, with the Orfeón Donostiarra.
It has also collaborated with the adult choir “El León de Oro” in the recording of two of their CDs (“Lux Aurumque” in 2003 and “Paxarines” in 2009).
Founded in 2012, it is the women’s choir of the #ProyectoLDO and is made up of singers from the age of 15, most of whom have been or still are members of the children’s choir “Peques LDO”. Some others already sing in the mixed choir El León de Oro, while the rest share a passion for the world of choral music. Aurum, which was created with the idea of ensuring the continuity of young female voices as a bridge between the children’s and adult choirs, has grown into a choir with its own identity and a leading presence thanks to its innovative projects.
Their primary goal is the pursuit of the highest sound quality, through vocal and aesthetic diversity. In addition, Aurum’s voices also strive to build an emotional connection with the audience, thanks to carefully selected programs designed for each occasion, which rarely leave anyone indifferent.
They made their international debut in the summer of their founding year, 2012. Among their awards are First Prize in Renaissance Music and Second Prize in Folklore at the LX Concorso Polifonico Internazionale Guido d’Arezzo (Italy) in 2012; First Prize in Sacred Music and Third Prize in Equal Voices at the IX Concorso Corale Internazionale Città di Rimini (Italy) in 2015; and two Third Prizes in both Polyphony and Folklore at the 46th Certamen Coral de Tolosa(Basque Country) in 2014. In 2023, they won First Prize at the LIV Sea Shanty Contest of San Vicente de la Barquera, and in 2024, First Prize at the 44th Choral Contest Fira de Tots Sants in Cocentaina, Alicante.
Another defining feature of this group of women, led by Elena Rosso, is their commitment to merging music and stagecraft in a theatrical setting. In 2014, they presented their own original production at the Niemeyer Cultural Center’s theatre, a performance titled «Kodama» that combined music, scenography, lighting, and spatial design. In 2021, they repeated their success at the Teatro Jovellanos.
In 2018, they embarked on a new stage-music adventure with the production “Helladia o los cuerpos de Atalanta”, in collaboration with the dance company Zig Zag Danza, under the direction of Rafael Ruiz. The quality of this work was recognized and honored with 8 Oh! Awards in its 10th edition in 2019.
In April 2024, they made their first collaboration with a symphony orchestra, performing together with Peques LDO in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in D minor alongside the Oviedo Filarmonía, OSPA, and mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, under the baton of maestro Lucas Macías.
AURUM and Elena Rosso, its conductress, achieved a brilliant second place in the 25th Sea Shanty Contest of San Vicente de la Barquera, one of the most prestigious choral competitions in northern Spain and part of the NATIONAL GRAND PRIZE FOR CHORAL SINGING. This second place secures their qualification for the next edition.
The male choir Ferrum was forged as a new addition to the El León de Oro project. Founded at the end of 2019, the initiative was put on hold due to the pandemic. In 2024, this choir of low voices was reborn with the aim of enriching the choral palette of the #ProyectoLDO, while also continuing to nurture its educational mission.
Ferrum seeks to delve into the performance of repertoire written for equal voices, both classical and contemporary, exploring the richness and depth of the lower register.
In its short trajectory, it has already achieved a 2nd Prize, awarded in 2024 at the Certamen de la Canción Marinera de San Vicente de la Barquera.
In April of this year, it was awarded First Prize at the 51st Choral Contest of Ejea, one of the most established choral events in Spain, as well as the audience-voted ‘David Tellechea’ Popular Prize. As the first-prize winner in the adult category, the choir secured a place at the 2026 National Grand Prize for Choral Singing, which will be held in Cocentaina (Alicante).
El León de Oro (LDO), founded in Luanco, Asturias, is much more than a vocal ensemble; it is a symbol of choral excellence that has captivated both audiences and critics throughout its trajectory. What began in this small coastal town as a group of friends united by their love of singing has evolved into an international benchmark, endorsed by numerous awards, invitations to prestigious festivals, and the devotion of those who enjoy its art.
Versatility is one of the traits that best defines this ensemble. With a flexible roster that adapts to the demands of each work, LDO offers performances ranging from the great masters of the Renaissance and Baroque to the boldest creations of the contemporary repertoire. This ability to approach such a diverse repertoire—always with outstanding interpretative quality—has allowed them to consolidate their position as one of Spain’s leading choirs.
One of the aspects that makes LDO unique is its own concert season, where it presents carefully designed a cappella programs. Added to this is its ongoing collaboration with major Spanish symphony orchestras, such as the Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo Filarmonía, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, and the Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa. Its international profile is also reflected in partnerships with prestigious European early music ensembles, including Le Concert des Nations, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, and the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg.
El León de Oro has been invited to Spain’s most important early music festivals, from those in Logroño, Aranjuez, Seville, Úbeda, and Baeza, to the Quincena Musical Donostiarra, the Festival Internacional de Arte Sacro de Madrid, and the Semana de Música Religiosa de Cuenca. More recently, it has also performed at the Palau de la Música Catalanain Barcelona. Its international reach is evident in memorable performances under Jordi Savall at the Philharmonie de Paris, La Saline Royale, and the Festival Berlioz.
The ensemble also boasts an extraordinary record of achievements. Among its accolades are first prize at the London International A Cappella Choir Competition (2014), the Gran Premio Nacional de Canto Coral (2003 and 2006), and other awards from prestigious competitions such as Arezzo, Flanders, Tolosa, Varna, and Tours. More recently, in 2020, it was recognized in the Circuitos FestClásica, and in 2021 received the Amuravela de Oro award.
In the recording field, LDO has consolidated its prestige through a trilogy of albums released by Hyperion Records: Amarae Morti (2019), Guerrero: Magnificat, Lamentations & Canciones (2021), and George de la Hèle: Missa Praeter rerum seriem (2024). This latest album, which explores the repertoire of Philip II’s Flemish Chapel, was named Disc of the Month by Scherzo magazine. All these productions, conducted by the renowned British maestro Peter Phillips, LDO’s honorary conductor since 2017, have been acclaimed by critics and achieved significant international impact.
LDO’s educational role is equally remarkable. Since 2017, it has organized choral conducting masterclasses that have attracted teachers and students from around the world. These initiatives are complemented by the work of its Choral School, reaffirming its commitment to the development and dissemination of choral singing.
El León de Oro is made possible thanks to the support of its main patron, the SATEC Group, and its protective partner, the company Excade, as well as the backing of institutions such as INAEM and the Principality of Asturias. From its origins in Luanco, this Asturian ensemble continues to shine as one of the foremost exponents of choral music, bringing its art to new horizons and moving all those who have the privilege of listening to them.
