Born in 1984, in Havana, Cuba, Jose studied flute and piano at the Alejandro G. Caturla and later at Amadeo Roldan Conservatory. His flute professors at this time were Erasmo Lopez and Floraimed Fernandez, both members of the National Symphony Orchestra, Ballet and Opera Orchestras. During this period of study, he received Second Prize in Amadeo Roldan's National Flute Competition (1997) and First Prize from the National Union of Artists and Writers of Cuba in their Woodwind Competition in 2001, performing with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jorge Lopez Marin. Jose has given chamber music concerts with the violinist Evelio Tieles and Havana Player's Ensemble at the Auditorium Amadeo Roldan and Basilica Menor de San Francisco de Asis in Havana. He was also invited to be part of the Bach Festival 2002 in Havana giving concerts in a variety of venues such as National Theatre "Garcia Lorca" and Caturla's Concert Hall.
After auditioning in London, England, Jose was offered places at the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Trinity College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the latter offered a full scholarship for the Bachelor of Music Degree which Jose accepted and commenced in 2003. After completion of this degree in 2007, Jose was kindly supported by the Society of Knights of the Round Table and the Innholders' Company to continue his studies at the Guildhall School of Music, in the Masters Programme (Orchestral Training).
During his time at Guildhall, with Philippa Davies as his main professor, Jose enjoyed training under other eminent players such as Sharon Williams, Ian Clarke, Sarah Newbold and Sam Coles. He also played with Guildhall Symphonia and Wind Orchestra conducted by Gordon Hunt, Joseph Wolfe and David Corkhill and with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir. Colin Davies, Sian Edwards, Paolo Olmi and Christopher Seaman.
Whilst a student he was invited to play with the Morley College's Orchestra and the Eureka Foundation Orchestra. During this time Jose also founded Vientus, a wind trioand gave concerts at his Conservatoire, various churches across the UK and in Tarragona, Spain (Pretori Roma). As well as this he accepted numerous invitations to perform in festivals such as Glasgow Cathedral Music Recital Series (2006), Seville Music Festival, Spain (2006), Belgrade Music Festival, Serbia (2007), Winchester Music Festival (2008), Frome Young Musicians Recital Series (2008), and Paxos International Chamber Music Festival, Greece (2008).
Jose was accepted as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Spain (2006-2007) and as an extra player for the National Welsh Opera.
Finally, on completing his Masters, Jose was chosen to be part of the 2008-2009 Foyle Future Firsts Training Scheme with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and also given a place with the Southbank Sinfonia with whom he has enjoyed many exciting opportunities to play an extremely varied programme in a variety of venues across the UK.
Jose has performed several times as Principal and Sub Principal with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and is currently teaching at Surbiton High School and Highams Park School.
Jose currently runs a successful Cuban music workshop series which he has taken to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Oxford Flute Summer School, Philippa Davies International Flute Summer School and The Scottish International Flute Summer School.
A. Alen
Sonata
M. Arnold
Phantasy Op. 89
C.P.E. Bach
Concerto in D Minor
Sonata in A Minor
J.S. Bach
Partita in A Minor BWV 1013
Sonata in B Minor BWV 1030
Sonata in C BWV 1033
Sonata in E BWV 1035
Sonata in E Flat BWV 1031
Sonata in E Minor BWV 1034
Sonata in G Minor BWV 1020
Suite in B Minor BWV 1067
H. Büser
Prelude et Scherzo
L.van Beethoven
Serenade in Bb for Flute, Violin and Viola
Sonata in B flat Op.4
E. Bozza
Image for Solo Flute
I. Clarke
Orange Dawn
Train Race
Zoom Tube
E. Damare
Et Les Roses for Piccolo and Piano
C. Debussy
Sonata for Flute, Harp and Viola
Syrinx
R. Dick
Fish are Jumping
F. Doppler
Concerto in D Minor for two Flutes and Orchestra
Hungarian Phantasy Op.26
H. Dutilleux
Sonatina
G. Enescu
Cantabile and Presto
G. Faure
Fantasie Op.79
C. Franck
Sonata in A minor
P. Gaubert
Nocturno and Allegro Scherzante
Sonata
R. Gerhard
Cappriccio
P. Hindemith
Sonata
J. Ibert
Flute Concerto
Piece for Solo Flute
A. Jolivet
Concerto for Flute and Percussion
S. Karg-Elert
Sonata Appassionata for Solo Flute
David Lang
Vent
L. Liebermann
Concerto for Piccolo
Sonata for Flute
M. Marais
Les Folies d’Espagne
F. Martin
Ballade
S. Mercadante
10 Arias with variations
Concerto in E Minor
O. Messiaen
Le Merle Noir
J. Metcalf
Under Milk Wood: an Opera
John Metcalf
Calm for flute and piano
M. Mower
Sonata for Piccolo and Piano
Sonata Latino
W.A. Mozart
Andante in C Major
Concerto in C Major for Flute and Harp
Concerto in D Major
Concerto in G Major
J.W. Nelleke
Trouveres for Flute and Percussion
Jan Willem Nelleke
Variations on an Imaginary Theme
O. Nielsen
Concerto
A. Piazzolla
Estaciones Portenas
Etudes for Solo flute
Histoire du Tango
La muerte del Angel
Libertango
S. Profofiev
Sonata in D Major
M. Ravel
Piece en forme de Habanera
Sonatine for Flute, Viola and Harp
S. Reich
Vermont Counterpoint
C. Reinecke
Concerto in D
Sonata Undine
P. Sancan
Sonatina
F. Schubert
Sonata in A Minor “Arpeggioneâ€
Theme and Variations
J. Schulhof
Concertino for Flute (Piccolo), Viola and Double Bass
Sonata
A. Scott
Nemesis for Flute and Vibraphone
P. Taffanel
Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino
T. Takemitsu
“Towards The Sea†for Alto Flute and Guitar
Then ‘Was The Wind†for Flute, Viola and Harp
Voice for Solo Flute
G.P. Teleman
Solo Fantasies in A minor, D minor and E major
Suite in A minor
M. Tippett
Blue Guitar Sonata for Flute and Percussion (Arrangement by Zalba Smith-Slatter)
P. Vasks
Landscape with Birds
A. Vivaldi
Concerto in C for piccolo and strings
Concerto in D Major Il Gardellino
Concerto in G minor La notte
Helen Woods
Water
J. Zalba
Burbujas
Divertimento for Flute and Piano
Guaracha
Mis Dos Hijos
Pieza Concertante
Three cuban pieces for Flute, Double Bass and Percussion
Zaida (Danzon)
15th April 2023 7:00pm | Three To Tango St James's Church Piccadilly 197 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LL Tickets: £13.70-£30 Jose Zalba-Smith Piano Alda Dizdari Violin Idlir Shyti Cello Returning to St James’s with this incredible Tango Trio. Programme: Vivaldi and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons. Look forward to seeing you all there! This programme is years in the making. It wasn’t until the endlessly curious concert violinist Alda Dizdari featured in a rather unique dramatic production that paired the Four Seasons by Vivaldi with The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe that Vivaldi’s score really made an impression on Alda and inspired her to delve deep into the musical eccentricities and the dramatic power of these concertos that feel as refreshing and relevant as the day they were written back in the 17th Century. She will be the soloist and lead the Mellos Ensemble, a chamber ensemble she founded in 2021 out of a love for exploring chamber music in all forms, from small to large scale and wide range of genres and periods from baroque to contemporary. The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by the king of tango, Astor Piazzolla offer an explosion of Latin American rhythms within a classical structure. It is thanks to a very fruitful collaboration with two extraordinary musicians, the Cuban born pianist/flautist, Jose Zalba Smith www.josezalba.com with his rich classical, jazz and popular music background and the Albanian cellist Idlir Shyti www.idlirshyti.com that has enabled the trio to explore the two worlds colliding, the rich tapestry of tango rhythms and the different moods evoked whilst paying tribute to the great European classical music tradition that inspired the work. |
22nd April 2023 12:00pm | Jose Zalba Smith & Tradicional Cubano St Ethelburga's Centre58 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AG Tickets: PRIVATE EVENT Our lovely friend Neville has left us sadly. Chris, his incredible life partner is celebrating his life so we will meet for a celebration of Neville’s beautiful journey with him. We miss you Neville and hope we make you proud this day! |
6th May 2023 6:30pm | Jose Zalba Smith & Tradicional Cubano The In and Out Club (The Naval and Military Club)4 St James’s Square, St James’s , London , SW1Y 4JU Tickets: PRIVATE EVENT Great to be back to the Club, thank you for the invitation. Let’s celebrate together! |
18th May 2023 6:00pm | Jose Zalba Smith & Tradicional Cubano The In and Out Club (The Naval and Military Club)4 St James’s Square, St James’s , London , SW1Y 4JU Tickets: PRIVATE EVENT An intimate recital with the band at this beautiful venue. Thank you to the In and Out Club for inviting us back! |
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