One of Spain’s most highly regarded conductors, Juanjo Mena held the position of Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic from 2011 to 2018, highlights of his tenure including concerts both in Manchester and at the BBC Proms, performances of symphonies by Mahler and Bruckner, a Schubert cycle, several acclaimed recordings, and seven worldwide tours. Currently Principal Conductor of the Cincinnati May Festival, he has been Artistic Director of the Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa, Chief Guest Conductor of the Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked with major European orchestras such as the Berliner Philharmoniker, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Orchestre national de France, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, Milan, Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Danish National Symphony Orchestra.

He has conducted most of the leading North American orchestras, including the Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Montreal, New World, and Toronto symphony orchestras, New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra. His discography for Chandos with the BBC Philharmonic comprises recordings of works by Ginastera, including a disc to mark the composer’s centenary, Arriaga, Albéniz, Manuel de Falla (Recording of the Month in BBC Music Magazine), Gabriel Pierné (Editor’s Choice in Gramophone), Montsalvatge, Weber, and Turina, all of which have gained excellent reviews from the specialist music press. Juanjo Mena has also made a critically acclaimed recording of Messiaen’s Turangalîla-symphonie with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. www.juanjomena.com