Born in Moncofa, Spain into a family of clarinetists and Zarzuela singers, JOSE FRANCH-BALLESTER has been called “that rare find, an artist whose brilliant mastery of his instrument is matched by sound and secure gifts as a musician,” by The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana), and The New York Sun raved, “Young Concert Artists has a winner!”

Mr. Franch-Ballester was recently selected for Carnegie Hall’s Professional Training Workshop with Emanuel Ax and Richard Stoltzman in December 2007.  Focusing on the Brahms Sonatas, the week-long workshop concludes with a performance in Carnegie’s Weill Hall.  He is a member of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society Two, and as a chamber musician is in demand for numerous festivals, including Chamber Music Northwest (OR), Saratoga Performing Arts Center (NY), the Skaneateles Festival (NY), the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Music from Angel Fire (NM), the Usedomer Musikfestival in Germany, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, the 2007 Cartagena Festival Internacional de Música in Colombia, and the 2006 Young Concert Artists Festival Week at Nexus Hall in Tokyo.  He has performed Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with Arnold Steinhardt, as well as the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s song cycle Winter Roses with mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in 2004.  In February and March of 2008 he tours California as guest artist with the Jupiter String Quartet.

Mr. Franch-Ballester’s concerto soloist appearances include the Vallejo (CA) Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s under the direction of Keith Lockhart at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall, as well as appearances in his native Spain with the Orquesta de Radio Television Española, Orquesta Sinfonica Castellon, Orquesta Supramusica, Orquesta Cambra XX Teatro Monumental (Madrid), and the Musica de Vall de Uxo Orchestra. 

Mr. Franch-Ballester won First Prize in the 2004 Young Concert Artists International Auditions.  He was also awarded the Alexander Kasza-Kasser Prize, which sponsored his Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center, and the Claire Tow Prize, which sponsored his New York debut at the 92nd Street Y.  He performs numerous recitals and educational residencies across the United States at venues including Merkin Hall in New York, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, the La Jolla Music Society (CA), the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (FL), the Washington Center for the Performing Arts (WA), Missouri State University, Monmouth College (NJ), Western Michigan University, Boise State University, Middle Keys Concert Association (FL), Harvard Musical Association, and the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts (MI).

Mr. Franch-Ballester began clarinet lessons at the age of nine with Venancio Rius Marti, and gave his first recital in Valencia at the age of sixteen.  He graduated from the Joaquin Rodrigo Music Conservatory in Valencia in 2000.  In Spain he also won First Prize in the Competition of the Cultural Council of Valencia for three consecutive years (2001-2003) and First Prize in the “Francisco Hernandez Guirado” Interpretive Soloists Competition. 

Mr. Franch-Ballester came to the U.S. to The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he graduated in 2005, and studied clarinet with Donald Montanaro and Ricardo Morales and chamber music with Pamela Frank.  He is also on the roster of Astral Artistic Services in Philadelphia, having won first prize at their 2004 National Auditions, and performs with the woodwind quintet Astral Winds.

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