The Concertante Trio, a chamber ensemble, emerged as a thesis project submitted by Fernando Muñoz in 2007, as part of his graduation from the Chamber Music program at the Instituto Superior de Arte de La Habana (ISA) (1110 Calle 120 between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana). The ensemble belongs to the National Center for Concert Music and is made up of Dianelys Castillo (clarinet), Fernando Muñoz (violin), and Leonardo Gell (piano). The latter currently serves as its director.

In 2008, he won Third Prize at the 10th Ciutat de Vinarós International Chamber Music Competition in Valencia, Spain. The jury included Spaniards Vicent Campos (trumpeter), Susana Uruén (violinist), Carmen Mayo (pianist), Lluís Marzal (percussionist), and German Peter Granzow (musicologist).

This is the first Cuban ensemble to participate in this competition, organized by the Musical Youth of Vinarós and the Cultural Council of the City Council of this city in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community. They competed against other ensembles from the Netherlands and Spain. They presented, among other works, the Trio for violin, clarinet, and piano by Aram Jachaturiam and the Suite for violin, clarinet, and piano by Darius Milhaud.

In 2009, this trio gave a concert at the Minor Basilica of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís (Offices between Amargura and Churruca, Old Havana, Havana), located in the Historic Center of Havana. The concert was dedicated to maestros Alfredo Diez Nieto and Juan Piñera, on their 90th and 60th birthdays, respectively.

The program included the world premiere of Juan Piñera’s Trio Cervantino and the Cuban premiere of Adolf Busch’s Suite for Violin and Clarinet. They also performed Trio No. 3 by Alfredo Diez Nieto; Prelude and Invention (for solo violin) by Eddie Mora; Homage to Béla Bartók (for solo clarinet) by Bela Kòvacs; and the Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Francis Poulenc.

Their second anniversary was celebrated with a concert featuring compositions by renowned Cuban musicians such as Ignacio Cervantes, José White, Juan Piñera, and José María Vitier.

For its third birthday celebrations in 2010, the Trio Concertante performed at the Minor Basilica of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís (Oficios e/ Amargura and Churruca, Old Havana, Havana), where they had cellist Alejandro Martínez as a guest. They performed works from various periods and the premiere of a version for violin, clarinet, and piano: Cuadros de otra exposición (Pictures at Another Exhibition) by Leo Brouwer; Suárez 222 by Dalisberto González; and Casi una pincelada (Almost a Brushstroke) by Víctor García Pelegrín.

In January 2011, this ensemble performed in concert at a venue familiar to them, the Minor Basilica of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís (Oficios e/ Amargura y Churruca, Old Havana, Havana). Through this concert, they paid tribute to maestro Juan Piñera on his 62nd birthday. Colibrí Productions not only recorded the performance but also filmed it. Among the pieces performed were The Seagull by Anton Chekhov and the world premiere of Hecatombe and Alborada, inspired by a text by Virgilio Piñera.

At the Second Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival, the Trio Concertante was conducted on stage by Leo Brouwer, while the ensemble performed a work by the maestro composed especially for them.

In their performances, we can find their members playing in ensembles or as soloists. The trio’s repertoire includes both national and international works, featuring composers from all eras to the present, several of whom have written works for the trio. This includes the Cuban premiere of Two Contrasting Pieces, among other national and world premieres.

Concertante is the only group in Cuba that includes violin, clarinet, and piano; it’s an unusual combination of instruments. It has performed its music in national and international competitions.

In its short history, the Concertante Trio has won several awards, including Third Prize at the Ciutat de Vinaròs International Chamber Music Competition (Spain); First Prize at the UNEAC National Chamber Music Competition; First Prize at the Instituto Superior de Arte’s Musicalia National Competition; and Gold Prize at the 26th April Spring International Festival in Korea.