Diazmunoz, Eduardo | University of Illinois Archives

Eduardo Diazmunoz earned his BM magna cum laude at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City and did advanced conducting studies under the auspices of the Societe Philarmonique in Paris, France. His studies included working with the renowned conductors and teachers Leon Barzin and Leonard Bernstein.  He joined the University of Illinois as full professor and Chair of Opera for the School of Music in 2004, and retired in 2014 to take a position as Professor of Conducting and Music Director of the Conservatorium Orchestra for the University of Sidney.

After his conducting debut at age 22 at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Maestro Diazmunoz won musical acclaim as General Music Director, Conductor, and Founder of the Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico and Conductor of the National University Philharmonic, State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Mexico City Philharmonic, National Conservatory Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlos Chavez Symphony Orchestra, and Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra. Maestro Diazmunoz has been Artistic Director and Conductor of the Baja California Orchestra in Tijuana, which performs contemporary orchestral literature.

Diazmunoz is the recipient of the Mexican Union of Theater and Music Chronicles Award and International Biographical Centre Testimonial Award. In 2003, the International Biographical Centre named him International Musician of the Year for his commitment to new music. He has recorded more than 30 compact discs for 19 recording labels. He has been nominated twice for the Latin Grammy Awards Best Classical Album and once for Best Instrumental Album, for which he was awarded the Latin Grammy. Diazmunoz is the first Mexican conductor to earn two Golden Discs and one Platinum Disc. In an unprecedented national honor, the president of Mexico appointed Diazmunoz General Director and Principal Conductor of all Mexico National Music Program youth orchestras and choirs. He is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Diazmunoz has conducted more than 100 local, regional, national, and world premieres with the renowned artists Gary Graffman, Daniel Hope, Jorge Federico Osorio, Janos Starker, Henryk Szeryng, Susan Starr, Frederica von Stade, Eva Maria Zuk, and Zvi Zeitlin, among many others. As Artistic Director of the Baja California Orchestra, he prepared that ensemble for Luciano Pavarotti's final performance in Mexico. In addition to conducting the Mexican premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Candide, he has conducted the operas of Daniel Catan and Federico Ibarra, and has premiered his own compositions in Europe and the United States. Diazmunoz also has composed music for movies, television, and the theatre.