JAUME-BLAI SANTONJA ESPINO

Jaume-Blai is a native of Bocairent, as are his parents, Jaime Santonja Beneito and Mª Carmen Espinós Vañó.

Jaume did not go to school in Bocairent because when he was 4 years old his parents decided to take up residence in Ontinyent, since they both worked in the Town Hall.

In spite of this circumstance he always kept a strong link with his hometown: He has been a member of the "Filà Terç de Zuavos" since he was born, he has participated in the "colla de xirimiters i tabaleters "L'Aljub" of Bocairent, etc.
He has also been part of the Xafigà de Muro d'Alcoi and belongs to the Banda Unión Artística Musical de Ontinyent since he was eleven years old.
Jaume's childhood and youth have always been linked to music, his great passion and also his great fun. An example of this is the creation of a percussion group within the Ontinyent music band, which organized concerts and small pieces created by him for the commemoration of Santa Cecilia.
Although his higher music studies in Barcelona do not leave him much free time, he continues to be in contact with many musicians from Bocairent, who perform together whenever they can.
He also has a large part of his friends in Bocairent since when he was little he spent every weekend at his grandparents Jaime and Emilia's house.
He began his musical studies at the Professional Conservatory of Music "Josep Melcior Gomis" in Ontinyent (Valencia) where he studied elementary and middle grade (LOGSE) in the percussion modality. Having as teachers: Jesús Barberà, Romuald Gassó and Pep Soler.
Jaume graduated from the ESMuC (School of Music of Catalonia) in June 2008, obtaining the highest marks in his specialty. In this center he works with the professors: Gratiniano Murcia, Miquel Bernat, Lorenzo Ferrándiz and George-Elie Octors.
In June 2010 he obtained the Master Diploma at the "Conservatorium van Amsterdam" (The Netherlands), under the supervision of professors Nick Woud, Gustavo Gimeno, Mark Braafhart, Peter Prommel and Victor Oskam.
His orchestral experience begins with his time with the Youth Orchestra of the Generalitat Valenciana (JOGV) between 2004 and 2005, as well as with the National Youth Orchestra of Catalonia (JONC), of which he was a regular member between 2005 and 2007. November 2005, he is part of the pool of instrumentalists of the Young National Orchestra of Spain (JONDE), obtaining first place in the tests held in 2008 and 2009.
From May 2007 to January 2009, Jaume was part of the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra (VFO), resident orchestra of the "Verbier Festival" (Switzerland) and with which he made several international tours throughout the U.S.A. and Europe. With this symphonic group he has the opportunity to work with the most prestigious conductors of the moment: Valery Gergiev, Ginandrea Noseda, Paavo Järvi, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Sir Andrew Davis, James Levine, Manfred Honeck, Essa-Peka Salonen, Pletenev, Zubin Metha or Charles Dutoit... as well as with international soloists of the stature of Martha Argerich, Josua Bell, Evgeny Kissin, Anne-Sophie Muter, Lang Lang, Radu Lupu etc.
Jaume is currently a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (GMJO). The GMJO is considered the most prestigious young orchestra in Europe. With this group tours are carried out around the European continent, performing in the best concert halls and with directors such as: Jonathan Nott, Ingo Metzmacher or Antonio Pappano.
In the professional world Jaume has collaborated with orchestras such as the Orquestra Sinfónica de Barcelona i Nacional de Cataluña (OBC), the Orquestra Sinfónica del Vallés (OSV), the Prague Symphony Orchestra, the Orquestra de Cambra Nacional d'Andorra (ONCA) and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra (VFCO). Since his move to Holland he collaborates with the Radio Kamer Filhamonie (RKF), Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (RPhO) and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO).
As for chamber music, he is a regular performer of the Barcelona instrumental ensemble “BCN 216” and has done so with Insomnio Ensemble (Utrecht), both specialized in contemporary music. Jaume has been involved in various projects for groups such as the ESMuC percussion group under the direction of George Elie-Octors or the Daisen-in Dúo (percussion), with which he has won first prize in the Col•legi chamber competition. major Penyafort-Montserrat. He is currently immersed in a new project with percussionist Manuel Martínez (AKT-TEK Percussion Duo Project).
He has taken several percussion courses with teachers: Nancy Selstzman, Bogdam Bacanum, Juanjo Guillem, Josep Vicent, César Peris, Juan García Iborra, Enric Llopis, Gregory Zuber, (principal of the MT Opera New York and tutor of the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra), Mike Quinn (tutor of the Gustav Mahler Juguendorchester), Eric Samut, etc.
As a musical composer, he was the winner of the Contest for the 150th anniversary of the Moors and Christians Festival of Bocairent, in the pasodoble modality, with the work: “Bocairent 1984, Homenatge als meus Pares”,…among other compositions.