Jose Zalba-Smith Flautist

New album out now!

My Favourite Music

by Jose Zalba-Smith & Louisa Lam

About

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.

Foyle Future First Member with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
2008-09
Supported by the Rampton
Family Trust, The Society of Knights
of the Round Table, The Innholders', Leathersellers' and Cordwainers' Companies.
Grant from Sir John
Barbirolli Memorial Foundation, Royal Philharmonic Society.
Third Prize BFS Founders Prize
by the British Flute Society Silver Jubilee Competition (2008)

Repertoire

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 “Arpeggione”

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)

Ensembles

Here are just a selection of groups Jose performs with. Click the arrow to find out more

The Mañana Collective

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Tradicional
Cubano

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Flute & Piano Duo

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Three To Tango

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Flute & Guitar Duo

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Led by Cuban flautist Jose Zalba-Smith, The Mañana Collective is a powerhouse of latin rhythm, playing Cuban and Brazilian music together explosively.


more information

Tradicional
Cubano

Formed in 2007, Tradicional Cubano specialises in authentic Cuban music.

Bringing to life the most vibrant and iconic musical sounds from the wonderful Caribbean island.


more information
Photo by Jimmy Baikovicius

Three To Tango

Bringing to life the great works by the legendary Argentinian Astor Piazzolla, Three To Tango is the perfect choice to spice up your special occasion. Wedding, parties and functions - let the tango spirit flow!

more information

Flute & Guitar Duo

Jose Zalba-Smith & Andreas Moutsioulis


Bringing together the best of both Classical and Cuban musical worlds, the duo's electrifiyng and unique performances make them an excellent combination for recitals, masterclasses, events and educational projects.

Audio

Diary

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!

See all past events.

Contact

Don't hesitate to get in touch, you can either use the form here or the contact details just below if you prefer. I will try and respond to all enquiries as quickly as possible so get in touch to discuss an exciting collaboration.

Email

jezalba@yahoo.es

Mobile

+44 (0)7877 831192