MARIA ELINA MAYORGA She began her activity as a choir

MARIA ELINA MAYORGA
She began her activity as a choir conductor when she was seventeen years old, with Coro
de Cámara Arturo Beruti. She is also the conductor of Universidad Catolica de Cuyo's
choir since 1986. She has given many concerts, with both of her choirs, both nationally
and internationally (Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Perú, Brasil, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Hungary,
Czech Republic, Austria and Israel)
Between 1998 and 2002 she was the conductor of the Asociación de Maestros
Sarmiento's choir. From April 2002 until December 2004 she created and conducted the
Choir of Casa Natal de Sarmiento.
She graduated as a Musical Education Professor from Universidad Nacional de San Juan.
She obtained a second degree in University Teaching at Universidad Católica de Cuyo.
Her work as a Teacher includes secondary and college teaching. Nowadays she is
working as a Professor at Universidad Nacional de San Juan.
She has studied Choral Conduction with Antonio Russo in Buenos Aires.
Ever since, she is continuously studying to improve herself: Néstor Zadoff (Choral
Conduction - 1987/88); J. Frombonne and P. Caillard in Paris - Interpretation of
Renaissance French Music - 1981; Carlos Lopez Puccio and María del Carmen Aguilar
(Argentina - Camping Musical Bariloche 1993 and America Cantat II 1996); Larry Wyatt
(from USA - "American Renaissance and Baroque" - 1996); Claudio Morla (Argentina "16th century polyphony" - 1996), Néstor Andrenacci )several workshops between 1997
and 1998); Clara Cortázar (Argentina - Gregorian chant - 1998); Frank Druschel and Dolf
Rabus (from Germany - Choral Managing – 2000 and 2003); Werner Pfaff (from Germany
- Choral Conduction and Vocal Teaching for choirs Workshop - 2001)
In 1998 she continues with her Choral Conduction classes with Mtro. Antonio M. Russo,
continuing up to the present. She has been attending Singing lessons with Prof. Ana
Sirulnik in Buenos Aires since April 2000.
She promotes the performance of numerous and excellent choirs from Argentina and other
countries in San Juan. She organizes permanent cycles for diffusion of choral repertoire,
Concerts in Museums, Didactical concerts, Local school choirs festivals, etc.
In 2003 she coordinated the Introduction to Baroque's Practice Workshop, organized by
Universidad Católica de Cuyo and supported by the Antorchas Foundation.
Together with the Secretaría de Extensión y Relaciones Institucionales of Universidad
Católica de Cuyo and its choir, she organizes the "San Juan Coral" International Choir
Festival, which is celebrated every two years since 1998 and is prestigious among similar
events in the entire world.
Since 2007, as conductor of Coro de Cámara Arturo Beruti and President of its Artistic
Committee organize ANSILTA, Festival and Competition for Argentinean Choirs.
Awards
In the year 2001 the Centro Sanjuanino para la Cultura named her "Remarkable
Personality 2001". In October 2002, UPCN (Unión Personal Civil de la Nación) recognized
her contribution to culture. In december 2003, the Province's Government, through the
Culture Subsecretary, awarded her recognizing her work. She has received identical
awards from National Gendarmerie (2004), Club de Leones (2005), Municipalidad de
Coquimbo and Casa de Chile en San Juan (2006).
In March 8, 2007 (International Women's Day) she was awarded "Illustrious Woman" by
the Municipality of San Juan City.
In March 2010 it was declared “Bicentennial Outstanding Women” by the Women's
Directorate of the Ministry for Human and Social Development of the Government of San
Juan.
In September 2011 the San Juan Rotary Club awarded the “Professional Excellence
Award”
International activity
In November 2000 she was a Jury in the VIII "G. P. da Palestrina" International Choir
Contest, celebrated in Rome and the Vatican City.
During years 2001, 2002 and 2003 she has worked as a conductor and a conduction
professor in Mexico DF (Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes) and Brasil (Universidad del
Sagrado Corazón, Baurú y Universidad de Sao Paulo)
In May 2004 she dictated a seminary about choral interpretation and conduction in
Universidad Autónoma de México's National Music School.
In November - December 2004 she was a jury, panel member and invited conductor in
Colombia's 1st National Choir Contest.
In July 2005 she attended to the VII International Choral Music Symposium, which took
place in Tokyo (Japan). In august of the same year she was a guest conductor, panel
member and lecturer in the "Comunicantus" International Seminary, organized by Sao
Paulo University’s Communication and Art School.
In 2007 he served as guest professional Choir of the University of Veracruz, Xalapa
(Mexico)
In 2008 he traveled to Marktoberdorf special guest of Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher and
Bayerischen Chorverbände Musikakademie Marktoberdorf to attend the International
Sacred Music Festival.
In May 2009 he traveled to Israel where he gave two workshops and a conference as a
guest of The Professional Center & Moran Israeil Vocal Choir
In August 2012 she was invited by the Agrupación Lírica Ciudad Jardín (Viña del Mar Chile) for concerts and a lecture about Coral Management for "Valparaiso - South
American Coral Epicenter”, project selected and awarded by the Regional Government of
Chile.
Choral event creation and organization
• "San Juan Coral" International Choir Festival - since 1998.
• "ANSILTA" Festival and Competition for Argentinean Choirs - since 2007.
•"Unidos en el canto" cultural program, which includes concert, workshop, course and
meeting organization. Joint project of Coro de Cámara Arturo Beruti, Coro de la
Asociación de Maestros Sarmiento, Coro de la Casa Natal de Sarmiento and Coro de la
Universidad Católica de Cuyo. Years 2001, 2002 y 2003.
• Regional choral encounter, in adherence to the Choral Singing International Day.
Auditorio Juan Victoria.
• Inter-province catholic university choir encounter. Coro de la Universidad Católica de
Córdoba y Coro de la Universidad Católica de Cuyo. Auditorio J. Victoria.
• "Domingos culturales" cycle in San Juan's Casa España, Centro de Estudios
Universidad Católica de Cuyo.
• "Descubrir Cantando" regional choir festival, for students of primary and secondary
school.
• "Canto por Santa Fe" solidary choir festival, in aid of the victims of the Santa Fe province
floods. Auditorio Juan Victoria, mayo 2003.
• Coordinator in the celebration of Universidad Católica de Cuyo's 50th anniversary,
September 2003.
• Commented choral concert cycles.
• Concert cycle in museums and historical and touristic sites.
• Choral concert cycle in support of the Museums International day and Semana de Mayo.
• Inter-province encounters for Adult Choirs, organized as conductor of the Asociación de
Maestros Sarmiento and the Casa Natal de Sarmiento choirs. Years 1999 through 2004.
• General coordinator of the "Navidad de la Esperanza" spectacle, organized by Channel 8
of San Juan, December 2000.
• Advisor and coordinator of the "Vivencias Navideñas" artistic activity project, a christmas
celebration organized by Diario de Cuyo, Municipalidad de San Juan and Banco de San
Juan. Sponsored by OSDE and supported by the San Juan Archbishopric, Universidad
Católica de Cuyo and Universidad Nacional de San Juan. December 2004 and 2006.
Works dedicated to María Elina Mayorga
• Antonio M. Russo: "Eros - Selene - Eros" Profane cantata, based on poems by Pablo
Neruda and Federico García Lorca, for soprano, choir and orchestra. Premiered by Coro
de Cámara Arturo Beruti, Andrea Maragno and Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universitad
Nacional de San Juan in the Juan Victoria auditorium, november 8 1996, under the
composer's conduction.
• Vivian Tabbush: choral arrangement of E. Villavicencio's "San Juan por mi sangre",
premiered in the Juan Victoria auditorium during the "Festival de Invierno" of june 2003, in
the XXXº anniversary of Coro de Cámara Arturo Beruti, under the arranger's conduction.
• Daniel Blech: choral arrangement of A. Piazzolla's "Oblivion", for 8-voice choir, premiered
in the Juan Victoria auditorium during the IV International Choir Festival "San Juan Coral
2004".
• Antonio M. Russo: three charols, published by Ediciones GCC 2003: "Mi señora he visto
un niño", "A las doce de la noche" and "Nació, nació pastores".
• Antonio M. Russo: “Angelus”, published by Ediciones GCC 2006.