Gabriel Newnan is a Venezuelan-born musician, educator and conductor. Gabriel studied Classical Guitar and Violoncello in both the National School of Music Jose Angel Lamas and the Simon Bolivar Conservatory of Music, graduating to become the principal cellist of the Youth Orchestra of Caracas. In 1987, Maestro Jose Antonio Abreu (Founder of EI Sistema) entrusted him as founding conductor of the Jose Maria Vargas Youth & Children’s Orchestra. In 1989, he received the Distinguished Medal of Excellence from the State Premier for his achievements and contribution on behalf of the children of the Vargas State. In 1992, he became the Vice-President of the Cultural Foundation for Music, founding the Western Chamber Orchestra. As the musical director and conductor of WCO, he taught disadvantaged children in one of the poorest suburbs in the west of Caracas, ultimately taking the orchestra on tour and providing free concerts to poor communities in hospitals, parks, libraries and schools throughout Caracas. Since moving to Australia, Gabriel has tutored cello, Spanish guitar and Spanish language and culture privately and for WEA (over 15 years) and Manly-Warringah Community College. He was co-founder and member of teh Avila String Quartet for six years, and is currently the artistic director of Los Cellistas, a seniors’ cello ensemble based in Woolloomooloo. He teaches music at St. Augustine’s College in Brookvale. Gabriel also regularly performs as a Tenor with Coro Austral a choir specialising in Spanish and Portuguese music and with Parramatta’s flagship choir River City Voices. With RCV Gabriel has performed at the Blackheath Choir Festival, Rivierside Theatres, City Recital Hall, Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, and in Handel’s Messiah alongside Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Orchestra at St Patrick’s Cathedral, as well as appearances on television and for corporate events.
