S U P E R I O R S C H O O L O F M U S I C C O S T A R I C A
Tch. Andrés Gómez Guzmán
GENERAL DIRECTOR
Singing (lyrical and popular) - Piano (Classical and Popular)
He started his musical studies at 4 years old, starting his classical piano studies until he was 22 years old with Tch. Serafín Zapata Junnior, continuing his vocal and instrumental process (classical piano) at the Diocesan Superior School of Sacred Music in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (2002 - 2003). He has led the musical chair with renowned teachers both in music pedagogy, as well as in the specialty of lyrical singing and classical piano; The Superior School of Music Costa Rica, from its foundation to the present day, is the only institution in the country with international agreements with schools of high standards, which allows the Master. Gómez Guzmán let his students experience music outside the classroom in the reality that music demands.
With postgraduate studies in Mexico and Italy (Arrigo Boito Conservatory in Parma), he has led musical chairs, being a student with renowned international artists such as Tch. Domingo Lobato, Tch. Víctor Manuel Amaral, Tch. Íride Martínez Conde (acclaimed worldwide for being the only Costa Rican lyrical soprano on the best stages), Tch. Montserrat Caballé (where he debuted and held the International Lyrical Singing Contest in 2012) and the baritone Tch. Romano Franceschetto, with whom he had the opportunity to carry out postgraduate studies in lyrical singing, among others. As a Baritone, he has performed roles in operas such as "La Cambiale di Matrimonio, Barbero de Sevilla, Carmen, Tosca, Ariadne auf Naxos, Nabucco, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, among others", he has toured Spain, Italy, England, Switzerland , Germany, United States, Mexico, Panama.
As ESMCR's general director, his main goal is that the students of the institution achieve on a large scale with "freedom, study and passion" the musical discipline, he continues implementing methodological and pedagogical investigations, in addition to virtuosic techniques, which are incorporated in the administration of the school under his charge. He is currently active as a musician outside of Costa Rica, which also allows all of his students to obtain direct and indirect benefits with producers, teachers and schools of great prestige worldwide recognized. In April 2020, he will be a guest speaker at the Latin American Congress of Music Schools in the Dominican Republic (CLAEM XI)
Tch. Mauricio Ramirez Brenes
Artistic Coordinator
He began his musical studies at the age of 10 at the Municipal School of Music of Paraíso where he graduated and obtained the Middle Technician in Music with an emphasis on Trumpet, later he studied Musical Education, Teaching and Educational Administration at the Continental University of Sciences and Arts UCCart, Universidad San Macos, Universidad Florencio del Castillo, obtains an ALCM degree in Classical Trumpet from the University of West London in England through the international career program of the Higher School of Costa Rican Music.
He currently works as a professor and Academic Coordinator of the Costa Rica Higher School of Music and trumpeter of the Cartago Concert Band of the MCJ. Current Trumpet Professor at the Municipal School of Music of Jiménez and Municipal School of Music of the Union of Tres Ríos. He has participated as Principal Trumpeter in the Symphony Orchestra that accompanied tenor Plácido Domingo in his concert in Costa Rica in November 2008, Cartago Symphony Orchestra (2009) and the Bach Academy Symphony Orchestra, and as Trumpeter with the Band and Orchestra from the Municipal School of Music of Paraíso on several tours inside and outside the country, principal trumpeter in the operas El Barbero de Sevilla (2007) and Rigoletto (2008), trumpeter in the show Jairo Sinfónico (2009), Voces del Mundo orchestra ( 2005) in addition to various Creativity Festivals and Band Festivals at the national level, Symphonic Band of the National Institute of Music, Intermediate and Advanced Bands of the University of Costa Rica as well as in several National Band Selections (General Directorate of Bands of the MCJ ).
He has received classes and masterclasses with teachers Daniel Crespo (Argentina), Alejandro Gómez H. (Spain), Dr. Gilberth Johnson (USA), the Atlantic Brass Quintet (USA), Fred Sautter (USA) at the UNA 2009 Bronze Seminar and In 2010 and 2011 he participated with the ECOBRASS brass quintet in the prestigious “Rafael Méndez Brass Institute” Bronze Seminar at the University of Denver in Colorado, United States, organized by the Summit Brass where he received master classes with Martin Hackleman, Ronald Romm , Richard Cox and Alan Hood among others.
He participated as a trumpet teacher in the band festival that took place in Villa Carlos Paz Córdoba-Argentina in 2012 and as a guest soloist with the band of the municipality of Rafaela in Córdoba-Argentina in 2018 under the direction of Esteban Fernández, performing in the same tour holds master classes for bronze instrumentalists in the cities of Rafaela and Arroyito.
LISoM. David Segura Arias
Drumkit Specialist
He began his musical education at the age of eleven in private classes and as a self-taught artist. He began his musical career at the age of 18 when he joined the Progressive Death Metal project Dry Bones Army with which he recorded his first album and had his first professional concerts. After his time in this band, he decided to begin formal education as a percussionist, which he took at the Escuela Superior de Música Costa Rica and concluded in 2024 obtaining the ALCM Degree from the International School of Musicians based in the United Kingdom.
Extensive experience as a live performer in professional concerts such as Camilo Sinfónico in 2022 and the Picnic festival in 2023 with the Islas group, with which he also had a large number of professional concerts in Costa Rica and Mexico between 2023 and 2024.
He is currently working on his own professional project called names are empty. In this Nujazz project he is in charge of composing, recording and producing the music as well as promoting it and organizing events. Names Are Empty's debut album “Un día de empleo” earned him a scholarship in music production with the Malaga-based Spanish university, Eartes.
Tch. Roberto Antillón Freer
Guitar Specialist (Acoustic, Electric and Classical)
Graduate (Postgraduate level) in Sciences in Music Education, with an emphasis in Music Teaching, from the Free University of Costa Rica. He began his studies at the University of Costa Rica, in the areas of classical guitar with Maestro Mario Solera, and composition with Maestro Bernal Flores. After that, in Spain, he studied at the Tomás Luis de Victoria Conservatory in Madrid and with maestro Giovanni Rodríguez.
Currently, in addition to the electric and acoustic guitar, and also the Renaissance lute, Roberto has dedicated himself to the interpretation of Jazz music on guitar. Initially, as a student of the Brazilian guitarist Bruno Wagner, and later, with the American guitarists Ralph Pritikin, Lindsay Blair, Jeff Caldwell, Tom Dempsey and Rodney Jones. Mr. Antillón also studied jazz music at Florida International University, as well as National Guitar. Workshop in Los Angeles in 2010, at the Santa Catarina International Music Festival in Brazil in 2011 and the Julliard Jazz Camp held in Utah at Snow College in 2011. At the same time, he obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering from the International University of the Americas. Roberto has performed many times in the most important national concert halls: National Theater, Melico Salazar Theater, National Auditorium and Eugene O ́neil concert hall, with Costa Rican groups, such as the Big Band of Costa Rica, Sasha Campbell and also accompanists from international musicians such as: Maggie Carles and Oscar Stagnaro. In 1998 he was part of the International Orchestra of the OTI Song Festival, held in Costa Rica in 1998.
Mr. Antillón currently teaches guitar and Jazz music privately, as well as at the University of Costa Rica, being the creator and teacher of the Jazz Guitar course in the program: "Open Music Program", as well as at Casa of Culture of Ciudad Colón, and have also taught in different musical programs of the Ministries of Culture and Education such as: Santa Ana (Municipal School of Integrated Arts), Desamparados Municipal Music Schools, and Santa Bárbara de Heredia, from 2003 to 2013. He is currently a member of the groups: Salaberry Tango Quartet and Dúo A Grosso modo.
Tch. Betzabé Vargas Ávila
Specialist in Singing
She began her musical studies at the age of 9 at the Santa Barbara municipal school. Her singing studies began in 2012 with the Tenor Ono Mora. In 2019 she began her formal education at the ESMCR and completed an Associate Diploma of the London College of Music (ALCM).
She has received different masterclasses and workshops with the following teachers: Celia Soldream (vocalist of Heroica and Celtia), Aida Sanchez (Actress of musicals such as: Chorus Line, Peter Pan, Hairspray. Dancer and choreographer), Beatriz Albert (vocal coach for Mónica Naranjo, Chenoa, etc.) José Pardial (vocalist of Avalanch) Anti Horrillo (producer of Megara, Mónica Naranjo, etc.), Adrian Hernandez (Tango singer, teacher at the Tamaba Institute), German Martinez (Guitarist for Astor Piazzolla)
She has participated in different musical projects in different countries such as Musical Specials, Concerts with the Malaga brass band. Directed by Mtro. Víctor Eloy López. Málaga, Spain. In addition to his professional project: PRAIA, with different productions.
Tch. Freddy Mora Quiros
Specialist in Clarinet and Musical Theory
He began his musical studies on clarinet at the Casa de la Cultura in Ciudad Colón in 2011, an institution where he had the opportunity to participate in the Wind Ensemble and Advanced Orchestra, in 2012 he joined the San José Municipal Band. where he served as principal clarinetist and with which he participated in the II Guatemalan International Band Championship (2015), where the Band won first place in the concert category.
In 2014, he entered the basic stage program of the University of Costa Rica in the specialty of Clarinet under the tutelage of Dr. Yamileth Pérez Mora, an institution where he completed his baccalaureate and undergraduate degree between the years 2016 - 2021. In the In 2021 he traveled to the United States to continue his master's studies in clarinet performance at The University of Southern Mississippi, which he concluded in 2023 under the tutelage of Dr. Jacqueline McIlwain.
As the winner of the 2022-2023 WPB Concert Competition at the University of Southern Mississippi, he had the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Wind Ensemble of The University of Southern Mississippi the work “Black Dog, Rhapsody for Clarinet” by the American composer Scott McAllister, and as a member and founding member of the “Solstice” reed quintet in 2022 won first prize in the chamber music division of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association collegiate competition.
Freddy has received master classes with important clarinetists such as Dr. Julie Detweiler (Florida State University), Bettina Aust (Principal Clarinet of the Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra), Kathya Galleguillos (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso), Antonio Saiote (Clarinetist and director of the Porto Academy Orchestra), Juan Ferrer (First clarinet of the Galician Symphony Orchestra), Philippe Cupper (Principal clarinet of the National Orchestra of the Paris Opera), Stephanie Zelnick (Kansas University), Fernando Domínguez (Autonomous University of Mexico), Akropolis Reed Quintet (professional chamber music group), among others.
Tch. Mackdiel Barrios Molina
Specialist in Music Production and Electric Bass
Mack Barrios, a talented Costa Rican musician and educator, began his musical journey at the University of Costa Rica, focusing on the double bass before moving on to the National University to complete his Bachelor of Music studies with an emphasis in Music Education, standing out as a Distinctive Student for his contributions to the UNA Musical Production Department and other departments.
As an educator, he participated in 4 Latin American Music Education Seminars in countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, and Colombia, acquiring knowledge from renowned Latin American teachers, especially under the tutelage of Violeta Hemsy de Gainza in 'Open Pedagogies'. In addition, he has attended various national and international master classes and seminars.
In the musical field, he has stood out as an electric bass player in the popular scene, participating in international tours, offering master classes for the University of Costa Rica, and collaborating in various musical genres, from pop and indie to funk and salsa. He has received master classes from world-renowned musicians such as Mike Stern, Tom Kennedy, Igor Saavedra, among others.
His foray as a music producer began with the renowned musician Dr. Carlomagno Araya Morera, collaborating on the album 'Almas en Vuelo', working with artists such as Humberto Vargas, Bernal Villegas and María Pretiz. Mack has been a music production assistant and then a recording, mixing and mastering engineer on more than 50 projects, some of which have won national awards.
Currently, Mack continues his training, taking an International Master's Degree in University Teaching at two universities, the European University of the Atlantic (ES) and the International Ibero-American University (MX), as part of his development as an educator in higher education.
Tch. Rubén Martínez Castillo
Specialist in Musical Composition
He began his musical studies in the Basic Stage Guitar Program at the University of Costa Rica, under the tutelage of professors Luis Zumbado and Jorge Luis Zamora, where he also formed part of the Guitar Orchestra of the University of Costa Rica for two years.
He later traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to begin his studies in musical composition at the National University of La Plata. He graduated from said institution with degrees in: Bachelor of Music, Composition, and Teaching in Music, Composition. He also holds a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis on Composition from the University of Costa Rica.
His concert works have been premiered in the City of La Plata, and the City of Rosario in Argentina, and later in San José and Heredia, Costa Rica. In addition, he has worked as a composer on the films “Emelina” and “Recetario” for the Chilean-Costa Rican production company Diarios de Guerra and as a music composer for the Costa Rican theater production company Las Verbenas.
Specialist in Musical Direction
Tch. Jeremy Ramírez Bejarano
Graduated from the National University of Costa Rica (UNA) and the University of Costa Rica (UCR), his music has been performed by various musical ensembles such as the UNA symphony orchestra, the Castella Conservatory symphony orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, the UNA percussion ensemble, the Musical Arts student symphony orchestra (UCR) Cartago Concert Band among others.
He was winner of the Latin American musical composition contest of the SER festival, in the Fernando Lerman 2021 category and composer of the music of the Anthem to the canton of Flores in the same year. He currently works as a harmony teacher, advanced band and composition workshop at the Castella Conservatory.
Tch. Caleb León Leal
Specialist in Music Theory
He began his musical journey at the age of eleven, exploring the drums in a self-taught way, which sparked a deep interest in music and led him, years later, to also learn the guitar independently. During his last year of school, he began his formal musical training at the Basic Stage of Music at the University of Costa Rica, where he was an active part of the Big Band of the Pacific, an experience that consolidated his passion for live music and working together.
In 2018 he entered the Higher School of Music of Costa Rica (ESMCR), where he studied guitar, musical production and composition. His multidisciplinary approach as a composer, multi-instrumentalist and performer was consolidated throughout this formative stage. He finishes his studies in 2022, obtaining the ALCM Degree in Musical Composition.
He has participated as a performer in different stages, such as PIC-NIC 2024 and FINCA-FEST 2024. He currently works as a bassist in various projects of different styles and sound proposals.
