Minnesota Orchestra Names Gabriel Campos Zamora Principal Clarinet

Music Director Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra announced today that Costa Rica native Gabriel Campos Zamora has won the position of principal clarinet with the Orchestra following an extensive audition process. Mr. Campos most recently served as associate principal clarinet of the Kansas City Symphony. He begins his Minnesota Orchestra position on August 16 at the Tour Send-Off concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, then travels with the Orchestra on its four-country European Tour at the end of August.

"Gabriel is a great musician who will undoubtedly be a great asset to our wind section and the Orchestra as a whole," said Music Director Osmo Vänskä. "We are very pleased to welcome him to the Minnesota Orchestra family."

Gabriel Campos Zamora, a native of San José, Costa Rica, comes to the Minnesota Orchestra from his most recent position as associate principal clarinet of the Kansas City Symphony. Prior to this role, he was principal clarinet of the Virginia Symphony; he has also served as guest principal with the Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle and Houston Symphonies. Campos has been a participant at the Marlboro Music Festival and frequently performed in the Kansas City Symphony's "Happy Hour" chamber music concerts. In addition, he attended the Aspen, Music Academy of the West, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto and Tanglewood festivals. He was a fellow of Ensemble ACJW, the Juilliard School and the Weill Music Institute, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.

Mr. Campos began his musical training at the Instituto Nacional de Musica as a student of Jose Manuel "cheche" Ugalde. He then came to the United States to study at the Interlochen Arts Academy with Nathan Williams and later received his bachelor's degree from the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles, where he studied with renowned professor Yehuda Gilad. His numerous awards include first prize at the Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition and the winner of concerto competitions at the Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West and National Repertory Orchestra.

"I feel honored and simply lucky to become a member of one the greatest American orchestras," says Mr. Campos, who fills the position previously held by Burt Hara. "I look forward to making a life in the Twin Cities and being part of a group of musicians that have great pride in what they do and who they are as an ensemble. I am excited to learn from my new colleagues and contribute to the growth of the Minnesota Orchestra."

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