| Biography | Josep Pons (born Josep Pons i Viladomat, Puig-reig, Berguedà, 1957) is a Spanish conductor. He received his early musical training at L'Escolania de Montserrat. He continued his musical studies in Barcelona with such teachers as Josep Soler (composition) and Antoni Ros-Marbà (conducting).
In 1985, Pons founded the Orquestra de Cambra Teatre Lliure (Chamber Orchestra of the Teatre Lliure). He was the musical director for the 1992 Summer Olympics. He was principal conductor of the City of Granada Orchestra (Orquesta Ciudad de Granada) from 1994 to 2004. In 2003, he became artistic director and principal conductor of the Spanish National Orchestra. In October 2010, the Gran Teatre del Liceu announced the appointment of Pons as its next music director, as of September 2012, for an initial contract of six years.
Pons has conducted commercial recordings for such labels as harmonia mundi. His honours include the City of Barcelona Award (1992) of the Cultural Institute of the City Council and the National Prize for Music (1999) granted by the Ministry of Culture. |