BIOGRAPHIE
Natalia Alvarez-Arenas (1986 Spain) She is a classical percussionist, performer and educator.
She has been playing percussion since She was 7 years old. She studied at the Royal Conservatory of Atocha in Madrid where She got her double bachelor degree in Percussion and Percussion Pedagogi in 2009. In 2013 and 2015 She also finished her bachelor and Master percussion degree at the Royal Conservatory of Den Haag with Fedor Teunisse, Pepe Garcia and Luuk Nagtegaal.
All through her career she has played and collaborate in different orchestras, ensembles and musical organizations as Ludwig, Residentie Orquestra, Diamant Fabrike, Dag in de Branding, Asko Schönberg, Slagwerk Den Haag and New European Ensemble. She was one of the leaders of Davai percussion Ensemble when they won the first prize of the Grachtenfestival in 2013. Now She is a member of On:Time percussion, JongNBE, Ta-Ta-Tone theatrical ensemble and Catchpenny ensemble.
Also She runs her own academy of music and movement for children in Den Haag, She works as a teacher with children with Autism. She is leading and guiding workshops of music introduction and percussion and She is collaborating with Ludwig in Music and Dementie and with the NAIP Master (New Audiences and Innovative Practice) in Holland.
CV
EDUCATION
- Contract Student Master NAIP (New Audiences and Innovative Practice) in the Royal Conservatory of Den Haag (since September 2015)
- Master Degree in Percussion in the Royal Conservatory of Den Haag (June 2015).
- Bachelor Degree in percussion in The Royal Conservatory of Den Haag (June 2013).
- Bachelor Degree in Percussion and Pedagogy of Percussion from the Royal Conservatory of Madrid (June 2009).
- Pupil of Pepe Garcia, Fedor Teunisse, Wim Vos, Luuk Nagtegaal, Pepie Wiersma, Jaime Fernandez, Eloy Lurueña and Rafa Mas.
Summer Course of percussion at Adeje University given by Francisco Díaz Martín, Charly Yacer, Katarzyna Micka y Víctor Mendoza (Tenerife, 2006). - Courses III and IV of “Rythm and Percussion” given by Raúl Benavent, Esaú Borreda, Charly Yacer, Silvia León, Jaume Roig, Rogeiro de Souza, Rafa Gálvez, Rafa Más y Sergi Perales. (2003 y 2004).
- Magistralia summer courses. Scholarship holder with the OSAS orqhestra (July 2001and 2002).
EXPERIENCE
- Member of JongNBE since 2016
- Member of Catchpenny contemporary ensemble since 2014.
- Member of On:Time percussion ensemble since 2014. Playing few times in the Grastenfestival.
- Moember of Ludwig Music and Demencia since 2016.
- Member of 4D Kwartet ensemble 2013-2015.
- Member of Tatatone. Theatrical ensemble for babies concerts since 2015.
- Collaboration in few projects with Askö Schoenberg from 2013 like the Kurtag recordings; Opera The House is Taking Over; Reinbert Birthday’s Festival.
- Collaboration in few projects with Dag in the Branding in March and October 2016 and April 2015.
- As a soloist player in Panambi Nieuw Geluid project (February 2016).
- As a player in the Opera Carmina Burana, production FATLADY (November 2016).
- Soloist player in the Silent Film Festival (January 2015 and 2016).
- Collaboration with the New European ensemble (2014, 2016 and 2017).
- As a player in the Opera “Conversation with My Mother”, production Diamant Fabrique (2013, 2014 and 2016).
- Collaboration with the Residentie Orquestra (2012-2015) .
- Collaboration with the NJO Muziek Zomer from 2010-2014 in project as Steve Reich Summer; It’s Takes Two To Tango; Summer Orquestra.
- Member of the Davai Perkusion trio from 2011 till 2013. Which we won the Grachtenfestival in 2013.
- Collaborator With Continium Rotterdam (December 2010).
- Member of the Juventas Orchestra (2008-2011).
- Member of the JORCAM Orchestra (2009-2010)
- Member of the JORCAM percussion group (2009)
- Member of the Jolivet contemporaneous group of percussion music (2008).
- Member of the Cala percussion teaching group (2009-20011).
- Percussionist with the Check Symphony Orchestra (December 2008).
- Percussionist with the Orchestra and Chorus of The Community of Madrid (April 2006)
- Member of JOCMA (the Young Orchestra of the Community of Madrid) (2005-2008). Collaborating with the JOCMA percussion area at this time, the percussionists Rafa Galvez, Francisco Diaz, Fernando Arias, Raúl Benavent y Lorenzo Ferrándiz.
- Percussionist of the short films recorded during the “V and VI workshop of Sound and Music for the cinema” (Madrid, December 2005). This workshop was organized by the Spanish General Society of Authors and Editors.
- Member of the Orchestra of the High Degree of the Professional School of Music of San Lorenzo of the Escorial (since June 2004).
- Member of the BAS (Music Band of the Arturo Soria School of Music (2003-2005).
- Member of the UAM Orchestra (Autonoma University of Madrid) (2003-2005).
- Member of the Baroque Orchestra of the Arturo Soria School of Music (2003-2004)
- Member of the OSAS (Simphony orchestra of the Arturo Soria School of Music (since 1999 to September 2002, when it disappeared, and which was conducted by Antonio Zamorano and Emilio Aragón.
- Collaborator with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Cultural Association “Orfeón Villaodonense” (2002-2003).
EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER
- Music teacher of children with autism in the Light House Den Haag since 2014.
- Runs her own academy of Music and Movement for children in Den Haag since 2014.
- As a teacher in music projects in Mexico and Curaçao since 2015.
- Teacher of classic percussion at the Academy Melody sXXI Spain (2004-2007)
- Instructor of percussion at a summer holiday city-camp (Cudad de los Priodistas, Madrid 2006)
- Music teacher in a kinder garden school in Madrid, Spain (2003-2004).
- Teacher of classic percussion since 2007.
- Teacher of percussion in the Cultural Center “La Inseparable” Spain (2008-2010)
ENSEMBLES
N AA is a classical percussionist performer. She plays and collaborate with different ensembles and musical organizations.
Playing with ensembles and musical projects there is more interaction and creativity between musicians and there is where She can expres better her self as a musician.
CATCHPENNY ENSEMBLE
Based in The Hague, the Catchpenny Ensemble resulted from the initiative of Master Composition Students of the Royal Conservatory to create a platform of exchanging and practicing creative musical and other artistic ideas. The diverse background and the different inputs of the members of the Ensemble has lead to a fruitful and continuous musical dialogue.
Catchpenny had its debut presenting five new compositions in the Conservatory’s Spring Festival in April 2015, and has since performed at the Silent Film Festival, the Romania.2 Film and Music Festival, and the Dag in de Branding Festival in The Hague.
https://www.facebook.com/catchpennyensemble/ / https://catchpennyensemble.wordpress.com/
THE ODD 7
Formed in 2016 and based in Den Haag, The Odd7 is a brand new Contemporary Music Ensemble, characterized by an unconventional setup of 7 instruments.
In its main focus stands the exploration of sounds, the experimentation on diverse combinations, new techniques, improvisation, graphic notation and cross-over arts experiences.
Close collaborations with composers and artists of different disciplines are crucial in order to create new musical aesthetics, that is why The Odd7 are now working together with the Composition Department of the Koninklijk Conservatorium and the Koninklijk Academie van Beeldende Kunsten, to realise concerts and music-exhibitions (May 2017).
JONG NBE
The jongNBE is the breeding pond of the Dutch Blazer Ensemble, consisting of 10 young musicians from the Dutch conservatories.
The jongNBE is an ensemble of young talented musicians from the Dutch conservatories, some already ready, others still in the middle of their education. They can be part of the young Dutch Blazers Ensemble for a period of two years, shortly youngNBE. The ensemble consists of 10 musicians (whistle, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, saxophone, bass) trombone, percussion and bass bass / bass guitar and is attended by experienced musicians of the NBE. The young NBE guides the young composers during the Competition Competition Preliminary Concerts On their way to the New Year concert and also plays their own programs.
https://www.facebook.com/jongNBE/
TA-TA-TONE
Ta-Ta-Tone, Concet&Workshop for Babies&Toddlers (7 month – 3 years)
Created and performed by Yael Levy, composer, educator and visual artist, and Natalia Alvarez-Arenas, percussionist and an educator.
Multimedia concert in which parents and young children can together go on a discovery in a world of sound and image. The sound world is created by the combination of unique non-conventional self made instruments and traditional instruments (as Glockenspiel, Flute, Frame drum, Kalimba etc.)
Together with the video-art and the stage design, we create a 40 minutes of audio-visual experience for the participants.
Ta-Ta-Tone brings to the babies a great adventure, travelling thought the forest and the ocean, traveling through the day and the night.
All sound and image materials were created by the performers.
ON TIME PERCUSSION
On Time is a percussion ensemble from The Hague.
The show consists of music repertoire from classical to modern, linked by theatrical elements. We play for Classical Theater, Corporate Parties, Conferences and Events. We strive to provide a suitable, artistic project together for the desired performance.
DOCENT AND MUSIC THERAPY
N AA runs her own music academy together with Nerea Vera call Music and Movement Den haag.
N AA teach and play music with children with special needs and people with dementia. “We communicate through making music together”.
N AA is leading and guiding workshops of music introduction and percussion.
MUSIC AND MOVEMENT DEN HAAG
Feel+Express+Create
Since 2014 I run my own academy of Music and Movement for kids from 1.5 till 7 year old, together with Nerea Vera. Teaching and giving workshops in different locations and international schools in Den haag.
https://musicandmovementdenhaag.weebly.com/
MUSIC AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS / MUSIC AND DEMENTIA
I communicate with them through my music and We create music together.
Collaborate with Ludwig en Dementia project:
http://www.ludwiglive.nl/
Eih!!! I will love to hear from you!
You can phone at 0031619560055 or write to me