Tomás Marco
Tomás Marco
Composer

Born in Madrid in 1942, Tomás Marco studied violin and composition while simultaneously completing his bachelor’s and law degree. He furthered his musical education in France and Germany, studying under renowned figures such as Bruno Maderna, Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, György Ligeti, and Theodor Adorno. Additionally, he pursued studies in psychology, sociology, and performing arts. In 1967, he worked as Stockhausen’s assistant.

Awards & Academic Career

Throughout his career, Marco has received numerous awards, including:

  • National Music Award (Spain, 1969)
  • Gaudeamus Foundation Prize (Netherlands, 1969 & 1971)
  • VI Paris Biennale Prize
  • Pablo Casals Centenary Prize
  • Golden Harp Award
  • UNESCO Composers’ Tribune Award

He served as Professor of New Techniques at the Madrid Conservatory and Professor of Music History at the National Distance Education University (UNED). He has published several books and has lectured at various European and American institutions and universities. Additionally, he has contributed to music criticism in various media outlets.

Institutional Roles & Radio Broadcasting

Marco spent 11 years working in the music division of Radio Nacional de España, earning the National Radio Broadcasting Award and the Ondas Award. He later held various leadership positions:

  • 1981-1985: Director and General Manager of the Spanish National Orchestra and Choir
  • 1991-1995: Technical Director of the Spanish National Orchestra and Choir
  • 1985-1995: Director of the Center for the Promotion of Contemporary Music, where he created its electroacoustic laboratory and founded the Alicante International Festival, directing its first 11 editions
  • 1993: Elected as a full member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando
  • 1977-1996: Member of the SGAE (Spanish Society of Authors and Publishers)
  • 1996: Director of Festivals of the Community of Madrid
  • 1996-1999: General Director of INAEM (Spain’s National Institute of Performing Arts and Music)
  • 1998: Awarded Doctor Honoris Causa by the Complutense University of Madrid

Compositional Work & Recognition

As a composer, Marco has written:

  • 6 operas
  • 1 ballet
  • 10 symphonies
  • Choral, chamber, and orchestral music

In November 2002, he received Spain’s National Music Award for his lifetime compositional achievements, followed by the Community of Madrid Music Award (2003).

Other honors include:

  • 2012: Grand Cross of May 2nd (Gran Cruz del 2 de Mayo) – Community of Madrid
  • 2014: Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts
  • 2016: 15th Ibero-American Music Prize “Tomás Luis de Victoria”

Currently, he dedicates himself exclusively to writing music and musicological texts.

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