The Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico's Philharmonic Orchestra, also known as OFUNAM) was founded in 1936 and is the oldest symphonic group in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

. It is based at Sala Nezahuacóyotl at the University City of the

National Autonomous University of Mexico The National Autonomous University of Mexico (, UNAM) is a public university, public research university in Mexico. It has several campuses in Mexico City, and many others in various locations across Mexico, as well as a presence in nine countri ...

, in Mexico City. It was the first orchestra in Mexico to present annual concert seasons. It has become a tradition that the orchestra presents an annual program of Mexican symphonic music. Some consider OFUNAM to have been created in 1929 when, soon after the UNAM gained its autonomy, a group of students and professors formed an orchestra at the Faculty of Music. However, it was officially founded in 1936, with official approval granted by

Lázaro Cárdenas Lázaro Cárdenas del Río (; 21 May 1895 – 19 October 1970) was a Mexican army officer and politician who served as president of Mexico from 1934 to 1940. Previously, he served as a general in the Constitutional Army during the Mexican Revo ...

's government. It was originally called Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad (University Symphony Orchestra) and was conducted by José F. Vásquez and José Rocabruna. The orchestra was based at Anfiteatro Simón Bolívar. In 1966, the orchestra moved to a new hall, Auditorio Justo Sierra, at the Faculty of Philosophy and Literature. In 1966, the appointment of a new art director, Eduardo Mata, marked the start of a new period. During this time, UNAM's Symphonic Orchestra became UNAM's Philharmonic Orchestra (OFUNAM). During this period the orchestra’s name was changed and became Orquesta Filamonica de la UNAM. Hector Quintanar was appointed artistic director in 1975. The following year, the orchestra moved to its current home, the Sala Nezahualcóyotl. From 1981 until 1984, the artistic responsibilities were in the hands of a tandem of associate conductors: Enrique Diemecke and Eduardo Diazmuñoz. From 1985 until 1989, Jorge Velazco served as the artistic director. He was followed by Jesús Medina, from 1989 until 1993. In 1994, Ronald Zollman became the new artistic director, a post he held for eight years, until 2002. Zuohuang Chen was the conductor from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, OFUNAM celebrated its 70th anniversary, alongside the 30th anniversary of Sala Nezahualcóyotl, and the 250th and 100th birth anniversaries of

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

and

Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich), First Symphony in 1926 and thereafter was regarded ...

, respectively. The Welsh

Alun Francis Alun Francis (born 29 September 1943) is a Welsh conductor. Career Francis was the principal conductor of the Ulster Orchestra from 1966 for ten years. In 1978 he conducted the premiere of Donizetti's opera ''Gabriella di Vergy'' in the Que ...

followed Chen in 2007, assisted by the Mexican Rodrigo Macias. Presently, Massimo Quarta is the OFUNAM's artistic conductor.

External links

UNAM's Official Music Webpage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ofunam Mexican orchestras National Autonomous University of Mexico Musical groups established in 1936 University orchestras 1936 establishments in Mexico

See also

External links