Biography
Here are some biographical facts about Efrain Oscher's work as a composer, arranger and flutists
Composer
Efrain lives in Germany since 2003, where he performs, composes, and teaches. He has composed many works for the Bolivar Soloists, which lead to a close collaboration with Edicson Ruiz, double bass player of the Berliner Philharmonic, for whom he has written many pieces in different combinations of instruments, including a double bass concerto. Efraín has also worked closely with star trumpeter Pacho Flores, who has performed his trumpet concerto “Mestizo” more than 30 times worldwide and entrusted him with several arrangements and one composition for his debut album for the Deutsche Grammophon “Cantar.” More recent commissions include a cello concerto for Matias de Oliveira Pinto, professor of the Musikhochschule Münster and bassoon concertos for Matthias Rácz and Hans Agreda, members of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. His orchestral works have been played by ensembles such as the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, Czech Radio Symphonic Orchestra, National Philharmonic Venezuela, Camerata Antlântica, and Kammerensemble Konsonanz, to mention a few. Efraín trained as a flutist at the Conservatory of Music Carabobo, an institution part of “El Sistema,” the world-famous children and youth orchestras organization in Venezuela. He was a member of the Carabobo Symphony Orchestra and the principal flutist of the Valencia Municipal Orchestra
Arranger
Efrain is also a very accomplished arranger. His arrangements have been recorded by Rolando Villazon in his albums for the Deutsche Grammophon “Tresures of Belcanto” and “¡México!” which was awarded with the Echo Klassik award. He also arranged several works for Pacho Flores' debut album for the Deutsche Grammophon "Cantar." He arranged and recorded fultes for Avi Avital’s CD “Bet ween Worlds” as well as for Ksenjia Sidorova’s album “Carmen”, also for the Deutsche Grammophon. His arrangememnts for trumpet and orchestra are also featured in Fabio Brum's CD for Naxos Egregore+,
Flutist
Efraín was given the Benjamin Dale Award at the Royal Academy of Music to undertake a postgraduate course with William Bennett, which he completed with Merits in June 2003.
During his studies in London he performed at the Bath International music Festival and the English Chamber Orchestra Young Artist Series. He enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with musicians such as composer and conductor Benjamin Wallfisch, British pianists Clifford Benson and Rhodri Clarke and Venezuelan pianist Clara Rodriguez. He also founded the Bolivar Soloists, an ensemble dedicated to Latin-American chamber music with which he has appeared in the most important venues and festivals around Europe and Latin America such as Rheingau Musik Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and iTunes Festival, to mention a few.
Efrain has produced and recorded CD for several own projects including the Bolivar Soloists, El Cruzao and Barroqueanas Venezolanas. He has also appeared as guest in CD productions by oboist Nigel Shore, baritone Simon Walfisch and accordionist Ksenja Sidorova to mention a few.
