Natalia Luis-Bassa
Natalia Luis-Bassa is a Venezuelan conductor who lives and works in the UK, where she is Professor of Conducting at the Royal College of Music and Principal Guest Conductor of Oxford University Orchestra and Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Life and career
A former student of El Sistema music education program, Luis-Bassa was the first woman who earned a degree in Orchestral Conducting in Venezuela. She studied Oboe with Lido Guarnieri and was later appointed music director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Falcón.Luis-Bassa completed her studies at the Royal College of Music in London, holding the RCM Junior Fellowship in Opera Conducting for two years. she holds a master's degree from The University of Huddersfield where she was a part-time lecturer and has been appointed Elgar Ambassador.
Since winning the second prize at the Maazel-Vilar Conductor's Competition in New York City in 2001, she has worked both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
As an advocate for music education for young people Natalia has established a long-standing association with the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain and has built strong relationships with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland,, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, London Symphony Orchestra,, The Purcell School, Wells Cathedral School, Australian Youth Orchestra, Wellington College, Oasby Music Group, Derby & Derbyshire Schools' Orchestra, Yorchestra, Kent County Symphony Orchestra, Six Counties Symphony Orchestra/Cerddoriaeth Ieuenctid y Chwe Sir, Nottingham Youth Orchestra, Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra.
She has also taken her work and efforts to promote orchestral practice beyond the borders and has collaborated with the Association for Music in International Schools in Qatar in 2016, the Asia Pacific Activities Conference in Beijing, China in 2018, in Jeju, South Korea in 2024, and the Australian Youth Orchestra in 2024.
Her advocacy for music education has prompted her to create links between university orchestras around the world, and to participate in concerts and workshops with the Oxford University Orchestra, Cambridge University Orchestra, Kent Youth Symphony Orchestra, Leeds Conservatoire, University of Madison Symphony Orchestra - Wisconsin, USA.
In August 2008 Luis-Bassa appeared in the reality TV talent show-themed television series, Maestro on BBC Two, as a mentor to David Soul. The Royal College of Music has appointed Natalia as a professor of conducting alongside Maestros Toby Purser and Peter Stark.
Luis-Bassa has worked with the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain, conducting the London Regionals and running the Conductor's Course. She also conducted the Main Orchestra playing Danzon No. 2 by Arturo Márquez in the Summer Concert of 2011, and again playing the Symphony 2 by Sibelius in 2014. She has been noted among the NCO for her flamboyant conducting.