José el Marqués – Flamenco Cellist, Composer & Improviser

José el Marqués is widely recognized as an exceptional artist with a distinguished trajectory in both the Spanish and international music scenes. A visionary creator of his own musical language—shaped by a rich tapestry of diverse influences—he is a trailblazer in integrating the cello into Flamenco, endowing the instrument with a unique and personal voice across multiple expressions of the genre.

He is the winner of the FILÓN Award for Best Flamenco Instrumentalist at the International Cante de las Minas Festival (La Unión, Murcia), one of the most prestigious flamenco competitions in the world. His groundbreaking performance of original works for solo cello marked a historic moment: it was the first time a cellist received this award in the festival’s history. This recognition affirms his more than 25-year career, during which he has redefined the role of the cello in Flamenco, pioneering a bold and authentic approach that continues to inspire and innovate.

In addition to the Filón Minero Prize (2024), José “el Marqués” was awarded the Best Original Music for Dance at the XI International Flamenco and Spanish Dance Choreography Competition. He was also a finalist for the 2023 TALIA Awards and has received several nominations for Best Composer at the MAX Awards, Spain’s premier performing arts accolades.

A cellist, improviser, and composer, José's music transcends traditional genre boundaries. His expressive power and artistic depth have led him to collaborate with renowned figures such as Camerata Flamenco Project, Carmen Linares, Sandra Carrasco, Antonio Campos, Rafael Riqueni, Juan Manuel Cañizares, Daniel Doña, José Maya, Rafaela Carrasco, Paco del Pozo, José António Galicia, and Rafael Jiménez “Falo”, among many others—earning critical acclaim and the admiration of audiences worldwide.

José was a finalist at the “La Noche en Vivo” awards (Madrid, 2013), and received a MIN Award nomination for Best Classical Album in 2019. The group is part of the AECID cultural catalogue (Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs), endorsed by Spain’s National Theater Network and the Red de Teatros de la Comunidad de Madrid, and was selected to represent Spain at the Amersfoort Jazz Festival and State of the Arts Night x Sound Scene - Hirshhorn Museum Washington D.C.

With nearly three decades dedicated to Flamenco, José has performed on some of the world’s most celebrated stages, including:AuditorioNacional de Música de Madrid, Teatro de la Maestranza de Sevilla, Queen Elizabeth Hall de Londres, Royal de Concertgebouw de Amsterdam , Teatro Stanislavsky de Moscú, New York City Center de Nueva York, Teatro Real de Madrid, ABC Theater de Tokyo, Teatro Nacional Chaillot de París, Auditorium Parco Della Música de Roma. Y ha participado en festivales como: FestivalInternacional de Jazz de Madrid, Festival Flamenco Mediterráneo de Alicante, Festival Internacional de Violonchelo Zutphen, Amesfoort Jazz Festival, Bienal de Sevilla, Festival de Jerez, Avanti Festival de Portvoo, Etnosoi Festival de Helsinki y Flamenco Festival EEUU among others.