Juan Carlos Núñez, a distinguished Venezuelan composer and conductor, has died at the age of 76.
Born in Caracas in 1947, Núñez began his musical journey at six, learning the piano. He further honed his skills in piano and composition under renowned teachers such as Sergio Moreira, Vicente Emilio Sojo, Evencio Castellanos, Inocente Carreño, Moisés Moleiro, and Francisco Rodrigo at the Escuela Superior de Música José Angel Lamas.
Núñez gained public recognition in 1972 after winning the National Composition Prize for his “Toccata sinfónica.” Despite his success in composition, he pursued conducting, studying with Stanislaw Wislocki in Warsaw.
Upon returning to Caracas, Núñez made a name for himself as a conductor, leading the Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela, Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas, Orquesta Filarmónica de Caracas, Orquesta Filarmónica Nacional, and the National Youth Orchestra Juan José Landaeta.
Additionally, Núñez co-founded Venezuela’s renowned El Sistema program, which provides music education to underprivileged children as a means of social action.
As a composer, Núñez was a pioneer in avant-garde music in Venezuela. His works often fused contemporary techniques with improvisation and elements of popular music.
“Today maestro Juan Carlos Nuñez has passed away,” wrote the Sinfónica Ayacucho on social media. “A Venezuelan master composer, pianist, and conductor, his work and legacy transcend the present day. We will remember him as one of the great composers of our country.”
