"You have a way of being present and always in command, but never disruptive; you allow the singers to shine. This is most impressive to me”. J. Šrámek (The Rose Ensemble)
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.
