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Considered one of the great maestros of the 20th century and genius of musical interpretation due to his ability to place each work in its proper stylistic and interpretative context and with a repertoire encompassing the entire symphonic literature from the seventeenth century to the present, Guigui was often called upon to fill in at the last minute - sometimes in programs that required learning a new work overnight. Efrain Guigui was also a special favorite among composers who looked to him for performances of their works. A winner of the prestigious Alice Ditson Award from Columbia University (Conductor's Pulitzer) for his contribution to the performance of new music, Guigui premiered over 2,500 new compositions in New York City's Town Hall, Carnegie Hall, at Lincoln Center, Composer's Forums and as Music Director of the Composers Conference in Wellesley College, (Boston, MA).
Born in Panama, he was raised in Argentina where he graduated with High Honors (Gold Medal) from the Buenos Aires Conservatory of Music. Guigui worked with Erich Kleiber, Herbert Von Karajan, Clemens Krauss, Otto Klemperer, Igor Markevitch, and many other great conductors. Invited by Aaron Copland to participate at the Festival of Contemporary Music at Tanglewood, Guigui remained in the United States for advanced studies in conducting and composition at Boston University. In New York City he studied with Leopold Stokovsky. After a season conducting for the American Ballet Theater, Guigui went to the Casals Festival, where he conducted the Puerto Rico Symphony, Opera, Ballet and Contemporary Music Ensemble. Guigui went on to perform with the likes of Daniel Barenboim, Itzhack Perlman, Eugene Fodor, Menahem Pressler, Leo Spierer and Jaime Laredo.
Back in the USA, in New England Guigui developed the Vermont Symphony Orchestra into a prestigious national Orchestra. At the same time, as Music Director of the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, Guigui solidified its longstanding reputation won through their performances at the Congregation of the Arts at Hopkins Center. A frequent conductor throughout the Americas, Guigui was honored with The Panamerican Theatrical Association Cesar Award for his "musical Contribution to the Three Americas."
In 1995, and after rebuilding the Panama National Symphony, Guigui was contracted to found and develop in Mexico the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the State of Veracruz and the School of Music for High School students. Both have developed into successful, striving institutions. Besides his activities conducting contemporary music in New York City and the Wellesley Composers Conference (Boston), was a frequent guest conductor in the U.S. and throughout Latin America, where he completed a season as a Fulbright fellow. While conducting the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Guigui was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement award by Consejo De Latinos Unidos.
Guigui most recently conducted the Los Angeles Metropolitan Symphony at Disney Hall for the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition. Maestro Guigui was the music director for the Local Union Senior Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles, where he was recognized and honored with a 2006 Los Angeles Music Award for his contributions to music education. In 2001 Efrain was diagnosed with Cancer and given a few months to live. His passing in 2007 was after a courageous and spirited battle reflective of his legacy and passion for life.
