Born in Tijuana in 1973 Pablo Varela is one of the brightest of a new generation of Mexican conductors. Having assisted Mark Wigglesworth at the Santa Cecilia Orchestra of Rome and Guido Maria Guida on Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Mexico National Opera, after concluding his studies at the Milan Conservatory Maestro Varela founded the International Philharmonia of the Californias becoming its Artistic and Music Director.

His engagements in Mexico include the Mexico National Symphony Orchestra, OFUNAM (Mexico National University Philharmonic Orchestra), Querétaro Philharmonic Orchestra, Michoacán Symphony, Tijuana Opera, Bellas Artes Chamber Orchestra, Morelos Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of Baja California and Tambuco Ensemble. In Europe he performs with the Divertimento Ensemble of Milan, Percussion Art Quartet of Munich, Sicily International Youth Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Rotterdams Conservatorium and Echos Ensemble of Lodi.

He appears as guest conductor of prestigious festivals such as the OSTERFESTIVAL of Hall in Tirol-Austria, Incontri Musicali d'Estate of Catania and the ContemporaneaMente Festival of Lodi, Italy.

Responsible for many premieres of works by Mexican and European composers (many of whom have dedicated their works to him) Maestro Varela was Principal Conductor of the CAOTHNOS 1998 Music Series of Rotterdam, Holland, a series of concerts advocated exclusively to contemporary music.

Honors include Semifinalist at the Eduardo Mata International Prize for Conductors, Diploma di Merito in Composizione from the Accademia Musicale Chigiana of Siena and Cultural Ambassador by the City Council of Tijuana since 1999.

Updated: August, 2004

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