Kirlianit Cortes-Galvez – Tenor
Kirlianit Cortes earned a Magister Artium in Lied and Oratorio Interpretation at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, studying with KS Marjana Lipovsek, KS Margarita Lilowa, Helena Lazarska, and KS Francisco Araiza.
He made his operatic debut as Borsa in Rigoletto with the Opera de Colombia and has since performed at renowned venues, including the Volksoper Vienna, Shanghai Opera, Bunka Kaikan (Tokyo), and the St. Margarethen Opera Festival.
As a soloist, he has worked with orchestras such as the NDR Radiophilharmonie, Salzburg Philharmonic, and Bogotá Philharmonic, and appeared at major festivals like the Sacred Music Festival in Krakow.
In 2020, he became the first Colombian Kapellmeister of the Vienna Boys’ Choir. As a conductor, he has led ensembles across Europe and recently conducted the EAFIT Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
Recordings
Kirlianit’s recordings include Songs by R.M. Rilke, operetta arias, Mass No. 3 (Radtinger), Die Göttin der Vernunft (NAXOS), and Mexican Christmas (NDR Philharmonic). He also recorded Rossini’s Il Signor Bruschino and La Scala di seta, and appears on DVD in Rigoletto (St. Margarethen Festival) and HIOB (Exilarte).
Julian Henao Gonzalez – Tenor
Recognized for his „noble vocal colour“ (Wiener Zeitung) and „smooth, golden tenor“ (Der Standard), Colombian tenor Julian Henao Gonzalez is acclaimed for his refined artistry and captivating stage presence. His repertoire spans Bizet, Mozart, Rossini, Bellini and Verdi, showcasing his versatility and passion for the operatic tradition.
A former member of the Young Ensemble at Theater an der Wien, he has portrayed roles such as Pelléas in Pelléas et Mélisande, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Pilade in Oreste. He has performed at Teatro San Carlo in Naples, the Rossini in Wildbad Festival, and the Halle Handel Festival, collaborating with conductors like Pavel Balev, Bertrand de Billy, and Alessandro De Marchi. His performance in Matilde di Shabran, released on Naxos, has received critical acclaim.
In the 2023/2024 season, he has sung Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Ópera de Colombia and Teatro Comunale Siracusa, Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Sofia Opera, Ismaele in Nabucco with Concentus 21 in Vienna, and performed at the Mozartiana Festival in Gdańsk with the Venice Baroque Orchestra. He also portrayed Ernesto in Don Pasquale with Scottish Opera.
For 2025, his engagements include Malcolm in Macbeth at Teatro Villamarta in Jerez, Ernesto in Don Pasquale at the Opera Festival Taranto, Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi at West Green Opera House (UK), Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Opera Open Festival Plovdiv, and Pelléas in Pelléas et Mélisande at the Longborough Festival Opera (UK).
Beyond opera, Julian explores crossover projects that blend classical and contemporary influences, bringing his artistry to innovative productions. Deeply connected to his Latin American roots, he also embraces and interprets the rich traditions of Latin American music, adding a personal and unique dimension to his performances.
Andrés Alzate Gaviria – Tenor
Born in Medellín, Colombia, Andrés Alzate Gaviria began his vocal journey as a baritone at Universidad Eafit, where he participated in numerous productions and concerts spanning opera, lied, and oratorio.
Eager to refine his artistry, Andrés moved to Vienna to pursue his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts, earning his degree under the guidance of Annamaria Rott. He also worked with esteemed mentors such as Helena Lazarska, Florian Bösch, Rita Schneider and Vesselina Kasarova. His repertoire is impressively diverse, including opera, operetta, musicals, and German Songs.
While in Vienna, Andrés performed in leading baritone roles, including Escamillo in Carmen by Bizet, Vater in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, Il Conte in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and the titular role in Don Giovanni.
In 2021, he transitioned to the tenor repertoire under the mentorship of Maestra Danusa Luknisova. His tenor debut came in 2022, where he performed as Don Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola at the Classic Summer Festival Kirchstetten in Austria. In 2023, he returned to the same festival to portray Don Narciso in Rossini’s Il turco in Italia, solidifying his place as an emerging tenor of exceptional talent.
Andrés frequently performs classical concerts with the Vienna Residence Orchestra, captivating audiences in some of Vienna’s most iconic concert halls.
Juan Carlos Paniagua Bustamante – Musical Director
Born on July 29, 1974, in Medellín, Colombia, Juan Carlos Paniagua Bustamante began his musical journey at the age of five as a singer in a children’s choir. At 17, he dedicated himself to Latin American music and flamenco as an accordionist and bassist.
He studied music education and piano at the University of Antioquia, training under Consuelo Mejía and Arnaldo García. His education expanded to jazz and improvisation with Eugene Umman, Caribbean rhythms with Andrés Hernández, and masterclasses with Chano Domínguez, Richie Ray, and Edy Martínez.
As an arranger, he collaborated with major labels such as Discos Fuentes, Discos Victoria, and Colmúsica. He performed and conducted at major festivals in Colombia and appeared as a bandoneon soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of the University of Medellín.
Since 2004, he has been based in Vienna, where he studied composition at the Prayner Conservatory. He has performed with numerous ensembles across Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Russia, China, the USA, and more, appearing at prestigious venues such as the Vienna Konzerthaus, Musikverein, Theater an der Wien, and Orfeo-Theater.
As an arranger, he has worked with Erwin Schrott, the Vienna Boys‘ Choir, the Max Steiner Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and the Imperial Orchestra. He served as musical director at Redp Music Vienna and taught at MZW Vienna as well as VHS in the 9th district.
He is currently the arranger and musical director of the Vienna Tenor Trio, an innovative project that blends the world of opera with modern crossover sounds.
