Rembert Egües

Son of flutist Richard Egües. He studied at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. He was a member of the Music Band of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). He was part of Felipe Dulzaides' instrumental group.

Author of songs: "En gris", "Como cada mañana" and symphonic works: Recuentos, Ser joven. He won an award in the music competition called by the FAR.

He enrolled at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory and studied the specialties of Composition and Orchestration with American professor Frederick Smith and orchestral direction with maestro Roberto Valdés Arnau.

For several years he was musical director of the National Ballet of Cuba and composed the music for the films El Señor Presidente, by Manuel Octavio Gómez, and Vampiros en La Habana and Más vampiros en La Habana, by Juan Padrón. He also composed music for ballets such as Muñecos.

Coming from a family of famous musicians, especially his father, Richard Egües, the flutist of the Orquesta Aragón, he began his musical studies as a child with his paternal grandfather, then entered the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. He continued his studies in composition and orchestration with Dr. Frederick Smith in the United States and orchestra direction with maestro Roberto Valdés Arnau.

1963: He began his career with the band "LOS CHICOS DEL JAZZ" and wrote his first compositions for film music (the song sung by Omara Portuondo "En la Otra Isla" documentary by Sara Gómez and theater, Gerardo Lastra choreography in the work "Los Gemelos").

1964: He began working as vibraphone and flute in the group "Los Armónicos" Felipe Dulzaides and recorded his first album as conductor "Recordar es vivir".

1965: He composes music for radio and television. Maria Luisa Güell recorded his song "Bachiana".

1967: He creates the group "SONORAMA 6" which participated in the song festival. He began military service in the Revolutionary Naval Force (MGR). He was soon chosen as professor and head of political culture in military unit 1792. He began working with the MGR fan movement.

1968: He was promoted to Chief of Staff of the MGR as second chief of national culture, after holding the position of Head of Culture MGR. He directs the Choir of the Mariel Naval Academy and won First Prize at the Amateur Festival of the Armed Forces.

1969: At the proposal of the Head of the Culture Department of the political direction of the FAR (Revolutionary Armed Forces), he joined the band as a soldier of the General Staff, as composer, arranger and orchestra director. He participated in the first edition of the "26 de Julio" festival and won first prize in light music.

1970: He obtains the Prize and Mention in the Symphony Choir Music Competition "26 de Julio". He directs musical shows and concerts at the Amadeo Roldán Theater, Havana (until 1977), where he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

1971: He obtains First Prize in Popular Music "26 de Julio".

1972: He enters the Center for Development, Programming and Dissemination of Music of the National Council of Culture, as composer and arranger. Back in the "26 de Julio" competition and won first prize in chamber music.

1973: He obtains First Prize in the Symphonic Music competition "26 de Julio" and Song Creator Music Festival Prize. In the following years he participates as a jury member, with Adolfo Guzmán and José Antonio Méndez, among others.

Working with the youth movement of the Youth Labor Army, where he wrote the music and directed the orchestra for the musical "La caja de Pandora".

1974: He obtains First Prize in the band music competition "26 de Julio". He creates the educational program of Cuban television "Todo en Música", where he appears as commentator and co-scriptwriter; the program will remain "on air" until 1978.

1975: He obtains the Orchestration Prize at the Sopot Song Festival, Poland and the orchestration prize at the Song Festival in Dresden, Germany, where he also participates as director and jury member. In addition, he won First Prize in children's music "La Edad de Oro".

1976: He travels heading a delegation composed by Pablo Milanés, Sara González, Amaury Pérez and the experimental sound group of ICAIC through several European countries, during Cuban culture days.

He participates as orchestra director, arranger and co-author with Juan Almeida and Chucho Valdés, the theme presented by Cuba at the Orfeo Festival in Bulgaria, where they obtain the Grand Prize.

That same year, he musically directs the show "El genio está en las masas" that Cuba presented at the International Workers Festival of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), where he won the gold medal.

He also has the distinction of the Order of Merit Rubén Martínez Villena of the Union of Young Communists (UJC).

1977: He obtains First Prize at the Sopot Song Festival, Poland.

He began working with the National Ballet of Cuba (BNC), as composer and orchestra director. He was elected vice president of the music section of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), a position he held until 1981.

1978: He writes the ballet "Muñecos" and wins First Prize at the Japan Ballet Choreographic Festival. He directs the Theater Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and the Metropolitan House of Washington, New York, accompanying the BNC.

Among the ballet music he composed: "El alcalde Al" is now used as the theme of CMBF (National Music Radio founded in 1948), with choreography by Gustavo Herrera. "O-ye-ye-o", with choreography by Alberto Alonso. "El amor en 1900", with choreography by Gustavo Herrera. "Los Pinos Nuevos", with choreography by Alicia Alonso and Alberto Méndez. "Las Pericas" with choreography by Iván Tenorio. That same year, he was appointed Musical Director of BNC.

1979: He conducts a major tour with the BNC, leading the Orchestra at the Metropolitan Opera House and the Kennedy Center, San Francisco, San Antonio, Houston and Boston. Later, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, the tour ending in Paris, where he conducts the France National Symphony Orchestra, as part of the International Ballet Festival Ballet du Théâtre des Champs Elysées.

1980: He obtains the price level, the price and the Mention of orchestration at the "Adolfo Guzmán" Song Festival of Cuba. He writes the music for the film "Patakin" musical by Manuel Octavio Gómez.

1981: He conducts the Woody Herman orchestra at the Newolah Song Festival, Kansas, United States, accompanied by singer Argelia Fragoso, where they obtain first prize.

1982: He writes the music for the musical work "50 años de amor" by Dor Nicolas.

1983: He obtains First Prize at the "Adolfo Guzmán" Song Festival and Orchestration Prize at the Benny Moré Competition. He was appointed Director and Principal Conductor of the Grand Theater Orchestra of Havana.

1984: He joins Alicia Alonso and conducts the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra in Moscow, Leningrad, Sofia and Prague. He writes music for the film "Mr. President" in a Franco-Cuban production by Manuel Octavio Gómez.

1985: He records music for "Vampiros en La Habana", the animation by Juan Padrón.

1986: He returns to Colombia as Director of the National Lyric Theater Orchestra.

1987: He obtains a distinction in recognition of his work as arranger and orchestra director of the shows at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana. He obtains with the National Symphony Orchestra, under his direction, the EREM prize for the recording of the comic opera "Manita en el suelo".

He obtains the Orchestration Prize at Festival "Gala 87" for Cuba.

1988: He obtains the Grand Prize of the Cha Cha Cha Festival and the orchestration prize. He wins the Orchestration Festival in Sopot, Poland, where he also serves as orchestra director and jury member. He is awarded the Orchestration Prize at the Song Festival in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, and participates as a jury member at the International Belgrade Festival.

1989: He wins the Grand Prize of the Cha Cha Cha Festival once again. He is appointed musical director of a major show presented in Paris, with the most representative artists of the country. After the performances, at the request of Cuba's embassy in France, he stayed in Paris, accompanying singer Mayra Caridad Valdés, to participate in the July 26 celebrations at the embassy.

The Cultural Advisor at the Embassy at that time, Eric Valdés, speaks with the owner of the Parisian cabaret restaurant "Tres Mesh", who is trying to hire a singer with his pianist, so they began to work together. Later, under a contract with Cubartista, they continue their activities at this venue.

1990: In France, he is a victim of a car accident, which left him between life and death; he underwent surgery twice during the year.

1991: He walks with crutches and works on the famous television program by Jacques Martin and as musical director and conductor for French singer Danny Brillant. He worked as pianist and musical director of "La Malla Tres". He received a gold record for his work as conductor on the album "¿De qué sirve" by Danny Brillant.

While recovering from his surgery, most of the staff of the Opera and Ballet Orchestra of the Grand Theater of Havana recommend that he avoid work, losing his professional relationship with Cuba.

1993: He wins again with the Gold Record album, "Usted" by Danny Brillant and international tours. He continues working as pianist and musical director at "The Three Mesh".

1995: He records the album "La Habana" with singer Danny Brillant. This album obtained platinum record status. This year, he conducts a long tour in France, including performances at the Olympia Bruno Coquatrix in Paris. He writes music for "Mas vampiros en La Habana" by Juan Padrón's film.

1996: To celebrate the centennial of the birth of Ernesto Lecuona, he writes orchestrations for the recording of an album by baritone Ulises Aquino, with the Spanish radio and television orchestra.

1997: He writes and records an album in Cuba with French singer Chris Agullo.

1998: With the famous Franco-Belgian singer Maurane he records the song "The Illusionist", with music and orchestration by Maestro Rembert Egües. This song is a featured performer on French charts for a long time.

1999: He returns to the Olympia Bruno Coquatrix in Paris as pianist and musical director for Danny Brillant.

Maestro Egues has established a major international career in France and other countries as a pianist, arranger, musical director and conductor for several European and Caribbean artists. Throughout his stay in France, he was a close collaborator of Cuba's Embassy, Cuba's delegation to UNESCO and various French organizations in solidarity with Cuba, performing in numerous activities as a patriot and political figure, which earned him recognition from these institutions.

He is currently working on creating the music for "SOY DE CUBA" presented with Cuban artists in Paris and other French cities in 2011.

Maestro Egues is, probably, the highest representative of Cuban music in Paris, an artist worthy of honor and a dignified ambassador of Cuba to the world.

He resides in Paris