Enrique Pérez Mesa is a renowned Cuban conductor; he was born in 1960 in the province of Matanzas. He graduated with a degree in violin from the National School of Art (ENA) (120th Street between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana) with professors Inna Kuztnezova and Billy Mokatzian. He graduated in 1993 from the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) (1110 120th Street between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana) with a degree in Orchestral Conducting, where he received classes from professors Guido López-Gavilán, Tomás Fortín, and Elena Herrera.

His conducting career began in 1991 with the Matanzas Symphony Orchestra, where he performed excellently. Two years later, he was appointed Principal Conductor of the Matanzas Concert Band.

In 1998, he participated in the 16th Havana International Ballet Festival, co-produced with the General Society of Authors and Editors of Spain, and recorded the oratorio “Psalm of the Americas” by José María Vitier. The following year, he was a delegate to the 1st Congress of Musical Personalities, held in Jerusalem. He received the Pilgrim of the Millennium distinction from the mayor of that city.

In December 2002, he was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra by Maestro Leo Brouwer. During this time, he served as conductor of the Cuban National Ballet, invited by Principal Ballerina Alicia Alonso, and was responsible for the musical direction of important works, including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Swan Lake, and Carmen, among others.

His repertoire includes chamber music, symphonic music, symphonic-choral music, opera and ballet, as well as stylistic influences from Baroque to contemporary.

He has been a guest conductor for several foreign orchestras, including the Claudio Santoro Theater Symphony Orchestra in Brasilia; the UFP Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro; the Camerata Universitaria of Zacatecas; the Morelos Chamber Orchestra; the Michoacán Symphony Orchestra; and the Palermo Theater Symphony Orchestra.

Enrique Pérez Mesa performed the Cuban premiere of the complete five concertos for piano and orchestra by Héctor Villa Lobos. He has also recorded music for Cuban and Spanish films.

He has collaborated with renowned soloists and has performed at important festivals such as the Havana International Guitar Festival, the Morelia Festival, and the Eduardo Mata Autumn Festival, both in Mexico.

Enrique Pérez Mesa has given master classes in orchestral conducting in countries such as Colombia, Mexico, and Spain; he has also served as a jury member in major international competitions. In 2010, he was invited to conduct the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra, “Artistic Heritage of the Nation,” in a concert as part of its International Series, in the Ríos Reyna Hall of the Teresa Carreño Theater.

In recent years, he has devoted extensive work as a conductor, helping to consolidate the symphonic movement in Cuba. Currently, Pérez Mesa is Principal Conductor of the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra and the Nuestro Tiempo Chamber Orchestra. In his teaching career, he serves as Head of the Orchestral Conducting Department at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) (1110 Calle 120 between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana).

Enrique Pérez Mesa is a member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) (17th Street between G and H Streets, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana) and has received numerous awards, including the Laureate Seal and the Distinction for National Culture; the Coat of Arms of the City of Sabaudia, Italy; and the Prodigal Son of the City of Matanzas.