SOCRATES VILLEGAS, clarinet
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Seeing a wind band playing on a rooftop, entertaining a wedding: that was Sócrates Villegas's first approach to music. This is how he began his adventure in the wonderful world of sound and that has led him to play in the most prestigious concert halls in the world.
Originally from Coyotepec, State of Mexico, Sócrates Villegas began his musical instruction at the age of 10 with the music theory and clarinet teacher of his community, Ubaldo Gutiérrez. His brother, Graciano Gutiérrez (trumpet player of the Orchestra of the Theater of Fine Arts) observed in Sócrates good artistic aptitudes, for which he encouraged him to take up music as a professional career. In this way he entered the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City where he completed his undergraduate studies with Marino Calva, who was then principal clarinetist of the UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra (OFUNAM), a position that Sócrates would occupy a few years later.
Upon completion of his degree, he continued his postgraduate studies at the Versailles Conservatory, France, with Philippe Cuper, principal clarinetist of the Paris Opera Orchestra. Upon finishing his studies in France, he was awarded a scholarship with the New Horizon Fellowship; to attend the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado, United States, where he studied orchestral repertoire with Joaquín Valdepeñas, clarinettist of the Toronto Symphony. In addition, he has a master's degree from Temple University where he studied with Ricardo Morales, principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
After several rigorous auditions and spending a year on probation, Sócrates Villegas was accepted by the famous conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin to be part of the legendary Philadelphia Orchestra, being the first Mexican in history to hold a position in a of the five main orchestras in the United States, undoubtedly one of the most important worldwide.
His previous positions include orchestras such as the Orchestre International de la Cité Universitaire de Paris, Toluca Philharmonic, Jalisco Philharmonic, Mining Symphony and OFUNAM. He has been awarded at the National Clarinet Competition of Mexico (2004), the Concours Nationale de Clarinette à Lempdes, France (2007), Concours de musique à Picardie, France (2008), Young Artist Competition, United States (2008), and at the Temple University Soloist Competition (2015). He has played as a soloist with the United States Air Force Band, and with orchestras such as OFUNAM, Carlos Chávez Symphony, Jalisco Philharmonic, Coahuila Camerata, Symphony of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Symphony of the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Symphony of the University of Guanajuato, Philharmonic of Toluca and the Philharmonic of Sonora, among others.
Teaching has been a fundamental part of his career; He has given master classes in Universities around the world such as in Israel, Australia, Mexico and the United States.
Sócrates Villegas is an artist for the French label Vandoren and an adjunct professor at Temple University in Philadelphia.
