Brass

Ismael Cañizares Ortega

Acting Principal Trumpet

Ismael Cañizares Ortega is a Spanish trumpet player with a distinguished international career. He completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música Victoria Eugenia in Granada (Spain) and later earned a Professional Diploma in Orchestral Studies from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

He has been a member of the Andalusian Youth Orchestra, the Spanish National Youth Orchestra, and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, performing in leading concert halls such as the Musikverein in Vienna, Symphony Center in Chicago, Tonhalle in Zurich, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Cadogan Hall in London, the Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, and many other venues across Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East.

As a member of the brass quintet Proemium Metals, Ortega recorded Escenas Contemporáneas, a CD of original works composed for the ensemble, performing as quintet soloist with orchestra. With the group, he was also prizewinner and finalist at international competitions in the United States and Germany. He has collaborated with prestigious ensembles such as the Spanish National Orchestra, the RTVE Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of Granada, and the Symphony Orchestra of India, and has recorded for radio, television, and published albums.

He has shared the stage with world-renowned soloists including Krystian Zimerman, Gautier Capuçon, Frank Peter Zimmermann, and Pacho Flores, and has worked under the baton of conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Christoph Eschenbach, Andrea Marcon, Ken-David Masur, Charles Dutoit, and Klaus Mäkelä.

Ortega currently serves as Principal Trumpet of The Orchestra of San Antonio, Principal Trumpet of the Opera Festival of Chicago during the summer season, and will begin his role as Acting Principal Trumpet of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra in September 2025.