“Playing in the OM means playing with friends”

Johane Gonzalez Seijas - First Double Bass

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Johane started playing the double bass in Venezuela within Abreu’s Sistema. He was the first double bass of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and then Claudio Abbado asked him to join the Orchestra Mozart in 2004. Abbado noticed him as they were playing the 9th Symphony of Mahler. Johane sees the Orchestra Mozart as a wonderful melting pot of musicians, a joyful ensemble able to combine quality and deep human relationships. Johane believes social and educational issues are part of an Orchestra’s activities just like concerts and tournées; we are happy to say he keeps on this attitude in the Orchestra Mozart as well.

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BIOGRAPHY

Johane Gonzalez was born in Venezuela and received his musical education in the Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela in Caracas from Prof. Felix Petit. He continued his studies with Prof. Ludwig Streicher and Rainer Zepperitz at the Reina Sofia Music Academy in Madrid.

From 2003 till 2011 he was principal double bass player of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria, and from 2002-2006 of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. He also played as co-principal double bass in the Orchestra Mozart under the direction of Claudio Abbado and has played in the Lucerne Festival Orchestra since 2007.

Johane has been invited to perform with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, the Munich Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam and the DSO Berlin.

Since 2009 he has been a member of the chamber music ensemble, Bolivar Soloists, and since 2015, a member of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. In addition, Johane regularly teaches master classes across Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, Italy and Japan.