IV ACADEMIA INTERNACIONAL DE FLAUTA - VILLA DE LEYVA - COLOMBIA-2011

GABRIEL AHUMADA

Colombian flutist Gabriel Ahumada was born in 1968 and is one of the most complete and versatile flute interpreters of his generation. He was initially trained at the Colombian National Conservatory by Jaime Moreno between 1982 and 1985. He first appeared as a soloist in the semifinals of the competition for young musicians organized by the “Orquesta Sinfónica del Valle”. In 1985 he gave his first flute recital in the Bogotá concert hall Luis A. Arango followed by other concerts in the cities of Pasto and Medellin. After 1986 he continued his studies at the Academy of Music in Vienna under the tutelage of Barbara Gisler.

He earned degrees in education and concert performance with degree cum laude. The Ministry of Education in Vienna awarded him with honorable mention (Würdigungspreis) due to his brilliant performance and dedication as a student.

In 1989 he joined the group "Vienna Flautists" with which he toured Europe, India and Korea and recorded 7 CDs for recording houses Orpheus and Discover Int.
His musical training was perfected in master classes with renowned teachers such as A. Nicolet, Susan Milan, R. Aitken and Carin Levine. He subsequently perfected soloist studies with JCGerard in Stuttgart and Philippe Racine in Zurich.

In 1993 he won first prize in the Flute Society contest of Austria. In 1995 he obtained the second prize at the Kuhlau contest in Germany, and in 1996 he won first prize at the Young Artist Competition in Memphis.

As a soloist he has performed with the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of Colombia and in Europe with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester Biel (Switzerland) and Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie.

Since 1994 Gabriel Ahumada is based in Germany where he is a member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Konstanz. Since 2004 he teaches at the Conservatory of Feldkirch, Austria.