Francisco Núñez | |
Birth Date: | April 23, 1965 |
Birth Place: | New York City |
Occupations: | Conductor |
Associated Acts: | Young People’s Chorus of New York City |
Website: | franciscojnunez.com |
Module2: | Awards: MacArthur Fellowship, 2009 ASCAP Concert Music Award, 2009 New York Choral Society’s Choral Excellence Award, 2005 Liberty Award |
Francisco J. Núñez (born 1965 New York City) is an American conductor, composer, and the Director of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City.[1] [2] Núñez founded the Young People's Chorus in 1988 "to provide children of all ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds with a safe haven for personal and artistic growth."[1] He is a 2011 MacArthur Fellow.[3]
Núñez was born in New York City, and grew up in the Dominican Republic and New York's Washington Heights neighborhood.[2] [4] He graduated from New York University in 1988 with a B.S. in piano performance.[1]
Núñez is the recipient of numerous awards in addition to the MacArthur Fellowship, including a 2009 ASCAP Concert Music Award, the 2009 New York Choral Society’s Choral Excellence Award, and the 2005 Liberty Award from the New York Post.[1] He is a member of ASCAP.[5]
Núñez founded an annual festival called Transient Glory in 2001. Transient Glory features original compositions created expressly for YPC by award-winning composers such as Paquito D'Rivera. The Transient Glory festival has been performed at leading New York City music venues such as Carnegie Hall.[6]
Núñez also leads the University Glee Club of New York City, its fifth conductor since the all-men’s choir was established in 1894. He served as the director of choral activities at New York University from 2003 to 2010.[1]
Núñez served as conductor of the 2011 North Carolina Middle School Honors Chorus. Núñez wrote a piece entitled 'Forever Is My Song' for the event.
On May 19, 2014, Núñez was awarded the NYU Steinhardt Distinguished Alumni Award (and received a tie custom designed for NYU by Salvatore Ferragamo).
Núñez is married to Elizabeth McKinney and has two children, Sebastian and Sabrina.