The Experimental Orchestra of Repertoire (OER, from the Portuguese title of Orquestra Experimental de Repertório) was founded in 1990 following a project by maestro Jamil Maluf. It focuses on the last step of the instrumentalist professionalisation process, that prepares musicians for grand orchestras and international experiences.
Some of OER’s objectives are: high quality professional education; the dissemination of a repertoire that is broad, diverse and indicative of the sprawling reach of the symphonic arts; and the formation of new audiences. The term Experimental was chosen with three pillars in mind, the first one being the fact that in said step of their professionalisation process, the musicians experiment with their talent. The second one relies on the nature of the repertoire, which goes beyond the European classics, introducing contemporary music from multiple different nations. Lastly, the orchestra prides itself on being open to the reception and fusion of new techniques and technologies.
OER’s many concert series – aiming to deepen thematic approach, with renowned stars of both erudite and popular music, as well as their assemblies of operas and ballets – comprise a programme that have seduced audiences and critics for years. One of the many honours they have been awarded is the Carlos Gomes prize, in the category erudite music highlight.
The OER body is made up of 100 musicians, 83 of them being designated as pre-professional instrumentalists, while the remaining 17 are professionals – the heads of each suit -. The main conductor, Jamil Maluf, his assistant, Guilherme Rocha, and an administrative team also add up to the body.
Jamil Maluf
Native from Piracicaba, a city on the countryside of the São Paulo State, maestro Jamil Maluf has graduated in Orchestral Regency at the University of Music Detmold (in Germany), under the guidance of Mto. Dr. Martin Stephani. During his long stay in Europe, he’s acted as guest conductor for many orchestras and participated in the International Seminars for Conductor in the German city of Trier, besides maestro Sergiu Celibidache.
When back in Brazil in 1980, Maluf became the artistic director and titular conductor for the Orquestra Sinfônica Jovem Municipal (Municipal Youth Symphony Orchestra), at São Paulo’s Theatro Municipal. In 1990, he created the Experimental Orchestra of Repertoire, which he still conducts with great success. He has also acted as the titular conductor for the Symphony Orchestra of the State of Paraná (at Teatro Guaíra) and as a regency professor at the 12th and 34th Winter Festivals of Campos do Jordão, being frequently invited to direct Brazil’s best symphonic ensembles.
Maluf has been awarded the prize of “Best Orchestra Conductor” by the APCA (São Paulo’s Association of Art Critics) five times, as well as the “Carlos Gomes Prize” and the “Maestro Eleazar de Carvalho Prize” in the category of Musical Personality of the Year. As a score composer for plays, the maestro has earned the APETESP, the APCA and the PANAMCO awards. In 2015, he also took on the role of titular conductor and artistic director at Piracicaba’s Symphony Orchestra.
Regente Titular
Jamil Maluf
Regente Assistente
Guilherme Rocha
Coordenadora Artística
Angela De Santi
Inspetor
Pedro Pernambuco
Produtor de Palco
Renato Lotierzo
Montadores
José Neves
Paulo César Codato