José Francisco Hernández Toledo

José H. Toledo · Santa Cruz de La Palma (1971)

Influenced by his surroundings and family environment, he became involved in music at a very early age, thanks to the San Miguel Band in his hometown. He was a member of the Brass Ensemble of the La Palma Island Council, the Youth Wind and Percussion Group of the Tenerife Conservatory, and the City of La Laguna Classical Orchestra (OCLL), and he was also a scholarship recipient with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra (OST). A Senior Trumpet Instructor and Music Theory Instructor at the Tenerife Conservatory, he later earned a degree in Composition from the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Conservatory and participated in graduate courses at the University of Alcalá de Henares (Madrid – Spain). He taught at the local band academies in Tegueste, Tejina, and Adeje; he has been a professor at the Arafo Elementary Conservatory of Music, the Valle de Gran Rey Municipal School of Music and Dance, the CPM (Professional Conservatory of Music) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and the CSMC (Higher Conservatory of Music of the Canary Islands), teaching subjects such as Trumpet, Harmony, Music Analysis, Band, Analysis of Contemporary Music, Chamber Music, and Ear Training. Interested in conducting, since 1995 he has taken specialization courses with Juan José Olives, Michelle Carulli, Josep Pons, Arturo Tamayo, José R. Pascual Vilaplana, Karl Heinze-Bloemeke, Rafael Sanz-Espert, and Manuel Hernández Silva. The Association of Symphonic Composers and Musicologists of Tenerife (COSIMTE) has premiered several of its chamber music works, and, as part of the RALS Project, the Association -together with PROMUSCAN (Promotion of Canarian Music)- has recorded its *Sonatina.com* for Trumpet & Piano. As conductor of the Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Valle de Guerra Music Foundation Band, he recorded the first two volumes of the ambitious project *Anthology of Ballroom Dances* (Vol. I: DANCE TUNES and Vol. II: BOLEROS) nd with this musical group, he also took part in the opening of the Grand Parade at Disneyland Paris in 2010. CONDUCTOR, “Nuestra Señora de Lourdes de Valle de Guerra Concert Band” (2000–2017) ARTISTIC & MUSICAL DIRECTOR of the Valle de Guerra production ‘LA LIBREA’ (2000–2017) CONDUCTOR of OCTP – “Teobaldo Power” Chamber Orchestra (2002) CONDUCTOR of “String Orchestra” of the “Faculty of Geography and History” – ULL (La Laguna University) (2004) PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR of “Telde Professional Municipal Concert Band” (2006–2012) CONDUCTOR of “Symphonic Band and Upper-Level Band of the Tenerife Conservatory of Music” (CPM) (2015 - 20) CONDUCTOR of “Tenerife Federation of Bands' Insular Band” (2015–2017) • Army School Award, 1983–84 • Third Prize at the 5th MUSICANARIAS Music Performance Competition, 1993 • Outstanding Musicianship Award – Berklee School of Music (Berklee On The Road Program - 1996) • Finalist · 1st “City of El Paso 2002” International Music Competition in the “Band & Orchestra Conducting” category. • 3rd Prize · 6th “ABILIO ALONSO OTAZO” Band Music Composition Competition (2024) • 2nd Prize · 7th FTBM Wind Band Composition Competition -symphonic work- (2025) • 1st & 3rd Prizes · 7th “AGUSTÍN RAMOS” Chamber Music Composition Competition (2025) • Prize at the 12th “Josep María Lleixà Subirats” Symphonic Band Composition Competition (FCSM - Catalan Federation of Musical Societies · 2025) • 3rd Prize · 8th FTBM Band Composition Competition – Pasodoble category – (2026) In 2025, several of his works were premiered, including one performed by the ‘Ensemble Difracción’ at a concert organized by COSIMTE (Association of Symphonic Composers and Musicologists of Tenerife). Last year, he also worked as a co-arranger and orchestrator for the Spanish singer Abraham Mateo, creating symphonic versions of some of his most famous songs, performed by the OCM (Orquesta Concertante de Madrid, conducted by José Mª Druet) on the RTVE Christmas Special, broadcast on Christmas Eve 2025 on Televisión Española’s Channel 1. He has been a professor of trumpet and chamber music at the CPM S/C de Tenerife since 1996 and a professor of Ear Training at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Canarias since 2003, combining his teaching work with active composition of works for symphonic ensembles and chamber music, as well as various arrangements for different vocal and instrumental ensembles.