Cruz Cabrera

Cruz Cabrera

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1958, he began his musical training at a very early age at the José Reyna Music School, where he studied theory and music theory, musical dictation, and classical guitar. Later, he continued his studies at the Lino Gallardo Music School, attending classes in harmony, counterpoint, and music history with Professor Violeta Lares and Professors Francisco Rodrigo and Salvador Toro Moya. He took a course in harmonic analysis taught by guest maestro Antonio Mastrogiovanni at the Juan José Landaeta School. He continued his musical studies at the José Ángel Lamas School of Music, studying choral conducting with Professor Belén Ojeda and classical guitar with Professor José Gregorio Guánchez. He completed his studies in counterpoint, fugue, and composition under the direction of Venezuelan maestro Miguel Astor, and earned his Composer's Diploma in 2018. He holds a Master of Science degree in Metallurgy and Materials Science (IVIC, 1989) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the Central University of Venezuela (1983). A physicist by training and a musician by vocation, he has over three decades of professional experience in scientific research, university teaching, technical management, and choral conducting. His career combines the rigor of science with the sensitivity of art and choral music. He participated in various choral and symphonic development workshops, from 1973 until 2018, including the International Workshop "Conductors Without Borders" (2018), the Symphonic-Choral Conducting Workshop with Maestro Ángel Monroy (2017), and the Vinicio Adames National Choral Festivals (1994), which included courses in analysis, phenomenology, and Renaissance music. He served as assistant director of the Texas System Children's Choir (2023) and as an active member of the Rafael Suárez Polyphonic Choir (1974–2022) as string leader, instrumentalist, assistant director, and conductor. The latter was founded by his mother, María Colón de Cabrera († 2021), who during her lifetime was the Vinicio Adames National Music Prize winner (CONAC- Venezuela) in 1993. During his artistic development, he actively participated in various national and international musical productions, festivals, and choral competitions, where on several occasions the Rafael Suárez Polyphonic Choir honored Venezuela by being chosen as the winning choir. His career in the musical field has been linked to teaching and training in choral practice, as well as as an assistant conductor in productions of symphonic-choral works and operas, such as Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, J. S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Handel's Messiah, and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, among others. In the professional and scientific fields, he most recently held the position of Calibration Technician at Allometrics, LLC, Houston, Texas (2024–2025). He continues to provide technical advisory services to the International Relations Department of Keystone C.A. in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, where he held the position of Technical Manager (2019–2023). During his extensive professional career, he has served as Quality Management Manager at El Pinoso Fabril C.A. (2007–2010), Technical Manager at Ultrafluids Corp. S.A. (2003–2007), Professor of Physics and Mathematics at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Central University of Venezuela, Head of the Thermometry Laboratory at SENCAMER, Lubrication Specialist at PDVSA-INTEVEP, and Head of the Thermal Studies Section at ALCASA. He currently serves as Musical Director of the Houston Hispanic Choir (2023–2025). His professional career reflects a solid scientific background combined with a passion for choral music, which has allowed him to conduct, train, and create in artistic and academic settings both in Venezuela and internationally, and most recently in the United States. He defines himself as a versatile professional with proven leadership, strong management skills, and a deep calling for artistic and human excellence.