Pascual Martinez y Gema Nieto

Pascual Martinez

A native of Majorca, Spain, Acting Associate Principal and E-flat Clarinet Pascual Martínez-Forteza joined the New York Philharmonic in 2001, the first and only Spanish musician in the Orchestra’s history as well as being a member of the Faculty of some of the most prestigious Music Schools, Conservatories, and Universities of the United States, Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Bard College, CUNY, and is an adjunct professor at Juilliard School. He is also part of the Faculty at Shanghai Orchestra Academy, in China. Prior to the Philharmonic, he held tenure with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and at age 18, he was assistant principal and later acting principal of the Balearic Symphony Orchestra in Spain. He has been invited to play principal clarinet with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle both in Berlin and in Carnegie Hall, New York, as well as with the Saint Louis Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Dallas Symphony.

Mr. Martínez-Forteza plays an average of 200 performances a year as a soloist, with orchestra, recitalist, and chamber musician. He regularly performs with prestigious artists as well as other orchestra colleagues from the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Concertgebouw, and Berlin Philharmonic in music halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Musikverein in Vienna, Philharmonie in Berlin, etc. In 2004, he started a collaboration with Spanish pianist Gema Nieto. In 2017, they were awarded The Sunshine Award for their artistic and musical excellence, making them the first clarinet and piano duo to receive this prize in over 30 years of this World Art Organization.

He has been a part of several Juries, some of which include the Debussy Competition in Paris, the Dos Hermanas in Seville, Vandoren Clarinet Competition, and the YouTube Competition. He is an active educator and regularly teaches master classes around the world, as well as the Shanghai Academy in China, Buffet Crampon Summer Academy, International Clarinet Association, University of Southern California, Mannes School of Music, Universidad de Ciudad de México, Festival de Clarinete de Lima in Perú, to name a few. His students have been successfully achieving clarinet positions at important orchestras around the globe, as well as winning competitions worldwide.

Named in 2017 Honorary Citizen of Benifaió, Spain, where he started to study clarinet with his father Pascual V. Martínez, professor of the Conservatory of Majorca and Principal Clarinet of the Balearic Symphony Orchestra. He graduated with Bachelor’s in Majorca Conservatory and Masters in Barcelona Conservatory, later moving to Los Angeles to pursue Advanced Studies at the University of Southern California with Professor Yehuda Gilad, and winning the USC Concerto Competition.

Pascual Martínez Forteza is an exclusive Buffet Crampon Artist and Vandoren Artist. He plays Buffet Tosca Green Line, V12 reeds, and mouthpieces M30D and BD5.

Gema Nieto-Forteza

Gema Nieto-Forteza, a distinguished Spanish pianist, has carved a niche for herself as a performer of profound musical sensibility, infusing intellect into her interpretations that cast a new and illuminating perspective on the works she brings to life. Cum Laude with Honors from the Conservatory in Spain, she pursued higher education in New York, USA, completing her Master's Degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Her pursuit of excellence was supported by a Fulbright Fellowship from 2003 onward, coupled with a scholarship from The International Institute and the Commission of Cultural, Educational, and Scientific Exchange between Spain and the United States, specifically the Ruth Lee Kennedy Scholarship. She studied under the tutelage of professors such as Mauricio Vallina, Dr. Brenno Ambrosini, Dr. Solomon Mikowsky, and Dr. Donn-Alexandre Feder and extended her musical horizons under the guidance of Dr. David Gilbert in Conducting Orchestra Studies, and received invaluable coaching from Gerald Robbins and David Krakauer in chamber music ensembles.

Nieto's solo performances have graced esteemed International Music Festivals, including the International Music Festival of Tenerife and the Puigcerdá International Piano Festival in Spain, the Chamber Music Series '04 in New York, and the "Sketches of Spain" Series at Carnegie Hall, New York. Her artistry has also resonated at the Changchun International Music Festival in China. Notably, at the age of 21, she received a special invitation from the Conde Duque Hall in Madrid to be part of "Jóvenes Intérpretes" marking her Solo Piano Recital Debut. She has been invited several times to perform at the Chamber Music Series of the New York Philharmonic, held annually in Merkin Concert Hall, NY. She is also regularly invited by Buffet Crampon to perform together with their exclusive Artists, being the Pianist in Residence at the Buffet Crampon Summer Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as in their New York City Showroom.

In 2004, Martínez-Forteza embarked on a successful collaboration with Spanish clarinetist Pascual Martinez-Forteza, culminating in the prestigious Sunshine Award in 2017. This recognition celebrated their exceptional artistic and musical excellence, marking them as the first clarinet and piano duo to receive this esteemed prize in over three decades from the World Art Organization. Beyond her performances, Nieto is an active music consultant, organizing concerts, tours, and events in the United States. She is deeply involved in cultural organizations and educational institutions, passionately promoting music education for children. Her multifaceted contributions extend beyond the stage, fostering a vibrant and enriched musical community.