Ulises Hernández Morgadanes

Cuban pianist, composer and cultural promoter. Standing out as an instrumentalist and pedagogue, a recognized and admired creator in the world of music.

He was born in the town of Unión de Reyes, province of Matanzas. Son of Rosita (a teacher by profession) and Panchito (Plant Manager of the Juan Ávila Sugar Mill).

He learned his first lessons in the primary school "Felipe Poey". He came to the world of music from a very young age, an aunt who was a pianist motivated him somewhat toward the piano. And from that moment on he began to approach his training.

In the late 1960s he enters the Provincial School of Arts of Matanzas "Alfonso Pérez Isaac" with professor Andrea Mesa. In 1970 he concludes elementary education in his province, continuing at the secondary level in the National School of Art. Under the tutelage of professor and pianist Jorge Gómez Labraña he achieves magnificent results.

He completes his higher studies at the Instituto Superior de Arte in 1978, studying until 1982, a degree in Music with the eminent Master and pianist Frank Fernández; where he graduates.

Subsequently he took master's and postgraduate courses with:

Frantisek Rauch, in Prague
Elianne Richepin in Annecy, France
Teresita Junco in Havana.

He has been a piano teacher at the Ignacio Cervantes conservatory, at the National School of Music. He is currently a professor at the Instituto Superior de Arte.

For Ulises Hernández teaching is the art of learning, it is linked to the renewal of knowledge. He likes to do it and feels it as a duty. He thinks that if he has the possibility, the faculty and the knowledge, he should not keep them to himself.

He has participated internationally in the Teresa Carreño piano competitions in Caracas, Venezuela and Alejandro Cassagrandi in Terni, Italy.

He has performed concerts in various halls throughout Europe and Latin America, notably his performance in the Teatro "La Fenice", Venice; Golden Hall of Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires; Palacio Marisel, Barcelona; Château d'Annecy, France; Casino de Madrid, Spain; Antón Dvorak Hall, Karlovy Vary, Czechoslovakia; Museum of Fine Arts, Santo Domingo and other important halls in Nicaragua and Colombia.

Since 1986 he has stood out as a composer of music for theater and film, for which he has obtained top awards.

Music Composed for Theater

1989 Cantata, music and direction Ulises Hernández

1992 Mujer impenetrable, by Reynaldo González, Dir Orlando Rojas

1995 Morir de Noche, by Roberto Ramos, Dir Mario Muñoz

1996 Calígula, by Albert Camus, Dir Carlos Díaz

Escucha hacia la muerte, by Alfonso Sostre, Dir Carlos Díaz

Querido Diego (Fresa y Chocolate) by Senel Paz, Dir Carlos Díaz

King Lear by William Shakespeare, Dir Carlos Díaz

1998 La verdadera culpa de Juan Clemente Zenea by Alcillo Estévez, Dir Mijail Mulkay

1999 The Good Woman of Setzuan by Bertolt Brecht, Dir Carlos Celdrón

María Antonieta o La maldita circunstancia del agua por todas partes by Carlos Díaz

Todos los Domingos by Antón Arrujat, Dir Mónica Guffanti

2000 The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Dir Carlos Díaz

2003 Icaros by Jorge Espinosa, Dir Carlos Díaz

2006 Contradanza by Francisco Or, Dir Tony Díaz

Filmography

1986 Es quererte decir (Doc.). Dir. Miriam Talavera.

1987 Uno, dos, eso es (Doc.). Dir. Miriam Talavera.

1991 Sed. Dir. Enrique Álvarez.

Espiral (Doc.). Dir. Miriam Talavera.

1992 Talco para lo negro (Short Fiction). Dir. Arturo Sotto.

1993 Te quiero y te llevo al cine (Second story of La coraza). Dir. Ricardo Vega.

Sonata in E-flat (Colombia-Cuba). Dir. Isabel C. Cuervo.

Vidas paralelas (Fiction Cuba-Spain-Venezuela-Nicaragua). Dir. Pastor Vega.

1995 Pon tu pensamiento en mí (Fiction Cuba-Mexico). Dir. Arturo Sotto.

La ola (Feature Short Fiction). Dir. Enrique Álvarez.

1997 Jugada final (Fiction Dominican Republic). Dir. Radel Villalona.

2000 Con todo mi amor, Rita (Doc.). Dir. Rebeca Chávez.

2001 Miradas (Fiction Cuba-Spain). Dir. Enrique Álvarez.

2002 La suerte (Short Fiction). Dir. Manuel Zayas.

2003 Pool with two figures (Short Fiction). Dir. Julio Carrillo.

2005 La edad de la peseta (Fiction Cuba-Spain-Venezuela). Dir. Pavel Giroud

Awards, Recognition and Distinctions

CD Cervantes cuatro pianos
Chamber Music Award, 1999.
Critics' Prize, 1999.

Dansoneo
Concertante Soloist Award. 2003.

DVD Cinco conciertos para piano by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Grand Cubadisco Award. Havana, 2007.

Grand Prize 2008

DVD Mozart en La Habana
Grand Cubadisco Award. Havana, 2008.

La Edad de la Peseta, film by Pavel Giroud
Best Music Award at the Ceará Film Festival, Brazil, 2007.

Miradas, film by Enrique Álvarez
Gonzalo Roig Award from the Cuban Agency of Authors' Rights. Havana, 2001.

Pon tu pensamiento en mí, film by Arturo Sotto
Gold Kikito Award for Best Music. 25th Gramado Film Festival, Brazil, 1995.
Award from the National Association of Authors and Composers of Cuba, Shell of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba. Havana, 1995.

Sed, film by Enrique Álvarez
Coral Award for Best Music at the 13th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. Havana, 1991.

Alejo Carpentier Medal 2004

Appointments

1982-1992 Professor and Chair of Piano at the Conservatory "Ignacio Cervantes", Havana, Cuba, developed piano study programs for professional advancement schools at the national level.

1987-1989 Professor of Piano Accompaniment and Piano Teaching Methodology at the Piano Department of the Instituto Superior de Arte, Havana, Cuba. He received the rank of Senior Teaching Instructor.

1992-1997 Piano professor at the National School of Music, Havana, Cuba.

1999-2007 Since 1999 to the present he is Piano professor at the Instituto Superior de Arte and the National School of Music.

2002 He was granted the rank of Auxiliary Teacher at the Instituto Superior de Arte.

2005 Chair of the Piano Department of the Instituto Superior de Arte.