About members or performers

National and international aware winners, their performances are based on musical rigour, a unified criterion, a unique treatment of the sound and a careful selection of their repertoires. National and international award winners, their performances are based on musical rigour, a unified criterion, a unique treatment of sound and a careful selection of their repertoire.

VokalArs is a vital and creative artistic community that develops an honest work able to favour the closeness and the connection to the audience.

VokalArs is an energetic and creative artistic community which has honed/perfected the skill of connecting and engaging with its audience.

BELÉN ALHAMA ALAMILLO

BELÉN ALHAMA ALAMILLO

She qualified as Transversal Flute Professor at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid and got bachelor’s degree in Science Information at the Complutense University of Madrid, in Visual and Auditory Image branch. Since 1999 to date, she has been a music teacher in Secondary Education and has formed teenage choirs in many of the centers in which she has worked. In 2004 she begins studies of Music Therapy in the School of Music Therapy of Madrid and in 2008 starts the Master in Music Therapy in the University of Alcalá de Henares.

In 2010 she carries out the training in Sound Therapy, endorsed by the International Association in Sound Therapy. She has worked as a music therapist in the Association of Parents of under-capacitated children of Alcorcón (A.P.A.N.S.A.) for two years. In January 2012 she carried out Choral Conducting course at Carlos III University and joined VokalArs. Since November 2017, she conducts Earus children’s choir, Antara Korai vocal group’s voice feeder.

MAR CALVO CALVO

MAR CALVO CALVO

Graduated in Nursing from the University of the Basque Country and a specialist in Pediatrics, she has developed most of her professional career at the Gregorio Marañón Hospital, where she has held highly responsible roles as supervisor of the Pediatric ICU. Her vocation also extends to teaching, being a pediatric CPR monitor and teacher at exam preparation centers.

In the musical field, he has training in accordion and piano, and has perfected his vocal technique with Milagros Martín and Laura Fernández Alcalde. Her interest in ensemble leadership led her to train in choral conducting with teachers such as Nuria Fernández, Rodrigo Guerrero and Camilo Rojas. This double facet as a singer and director is reflected in her extensive career: she has been part of the Complutense University Choir and the Madrid Choral Society, in addition to currently directing the groups Gente Habanera, Albada and Retales. Since 2025, he has been a member of VokalArs.

PAQUI CÉSAR BENAVIDES

PAQUI CÉSAR BENAVIDES

She was born in Madrid. She is a Primary School English teacher. She is accredited as a bilingual teacher by Comunidad de Madrid. Nowadays she Works in SAED (the Spanish acronym for “Home Educational Support Service”) in which she teaches ill pupils (at their homes) that cannot attend lessons at their own schools.
Paqui’s love for music started, especially, in Education (her degree), at university. There she met Regina Leal, her Music teacher. She taught her the importance of Music in a person’s life. For that reason, Paqui started Music studies at Escuela Municipal de Música in Leganés, where she finished Music Theory.
As her love for musical knowledge evolved throughout those studies, she realized singing was going to have a far greater impact on her life, than she anticipated. Then, in 1992, she began singing in Santo Tomás de Aquino choir (it belonged to the Universidad Complutense de Madrid). She took part in Europa Cantat, for several times: Herning, Denmark; Linz, Austria…

She sings currently in Universidad Carlos III de Madrid choir (from 1998) and VokalArs (from 2015) where both she gets the most out of the conducting of Nuria Fernández Herranz.

ELOÍSA COTOBAL COLLADO

ELOÍSA COTOBAL COLLADO

Eloisa has a degree in Hispanic Philology from Complutense University of Madrid. She also has a degree in Education from CES Don Bosco and specialized in English Philology and Musical Education.

She is also a graphologist by SOESPGRAF and Bircham University, graphic re-educator and specialist in the diagnosis of students with learning high capacities. Since she was a girl her musical training has been with Jose de Felipe, Irina Shirokij, Carmen Verdura, and Delimira Olivera among others. She has sung in different choir groups since the age of six: Virgen de Mirasierra Choir, Universidad Politecnica choir, Voxa Nova, Don Bosco choir, Universidad Carlos III choir, SCM, CEU, Quorum Vokal Madrid and VokalArts in which she has participated since 2005, when she completed a course in choral conducting with Nuria Fernández..

BELÉN DOLADO MORENO

BELÉN DOLADO MORENO

He was born in Madrid, where he began his musical training with the guitar at the age of 8 and singing in the school and parish choir. But it was not until a few years later that he began middle-grade piano studies and then oboe.

Having grown up in a multicultural environment, she learned several languages ​​from an early age such as English, French, Italian and German, which allowed her to train as a Tourist Guide and work as such for the Madrid City Council and as an interpreter for various companies at different events and fairs in the International Fair of Madrid (IFEMA), while continuing his musical studies. She later graduated in Musicology at the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music with Honors and an Extraordinary End of Degree Award for her research work on the oboe in the Archive of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. She studied Gregorian Chant at the Royal Monastery of Las Huelgas in Burgos. She began her choral career in the Choir of the Church of San Jerónimo el Real, singing as a soprano and collaborating as assistant director with Mª Ángeles Calahorra. In 2004 she took the Choir Conducting Course at the Carlos III University of Madrid, where she met Nuria Fernández, joining VokalArs ever since. She was a member of the Symphonic Band of La Lira de Pozuelo playing the oboe and participating in various national and international music band competitions. She has worked as an organist in various parishes in Madrid and is currently an organist in the parish of Ntra. Sra. De Guadalupe, where she directs the retired choir. For several years she has been working as a teacher in schools and Municipal Schools of Music, teaching piano and musical language classes, disciplines in which she currently focuses her work activity.

CRISTINA MARTINEZ FRAGA

CRISTINA MARTINEZ FRAGA

Born in Ferrol (A Coruña), she began her musical studies at the Xan Viaño Professional Conservatory of Music in Ferrol (A Coruña). She later obtained the title of Piano Professor at the Higher Conservatory of Music of the Basque Country (Musikene), specializing in contemporary piano repertoire.

He complements his musical training with singing studies at the Francisco Escudero Professional Conservatory in San Sebastián and with additional singing classes as an elective subject at Musikene.

In addition to her musical career, she graduated in Nursing from the University of A Coruña and obtained a Master's Degree in Secondary Teacher Training from UNIR.

His connection with the choral world began in 2006, when he became part of the Proxecto Vocal Concerto Tempo de Ferrol choir. In 2014 she moved to Madrid, where she works as a piano and instrumental ensemble teacher at the Las Rozas Music School and joins the VokalArs Ensemble Vocal.

SILVIA GARCÍA HIGUERA

SILVIA GARCÍA HIGUERA

Born in Getafe (Madrid), she graduated in Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid and is currently an official at the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
She began in the choral world at the age of 11, when she became part of the “Padre Soler” Children's Program at the Carlos III University of Madrid, participating in productions such as “La Bruja Azafrán” or “Cenicienta”. At the age of 15 she became part of the UC3M Choir, under the direction of Nuria Fernández.

In this stage, until 2020, he has performed works such as Dixit Dominus by Händel, Requiem by Mozart, Ninth Symphony by Beethoven or Carmina Burana by Karl Orff, among many others. For the last two years he has participated in the choir of the Katarina Gurska Higher Center. In September 2025 he joins VokalArs

PALOMA GIL RIAL

PALOMA GIL RIAL

Born in Madrid, she combines her vocation for the plastic arts with her dedication to vocal music. She has a degree in Fine Arts, specialized in Restoration, and carries out her professional activity as a Drawing teacher in Secondary Education and Baccalaureate.

His choral career began in 1991 in the Verda Stelo choir, and since then he has been part of groups such as the Camerata del Eco and the Choir of the Madrid Choral Society. In the academic field, he studied music at the Plácido Domingo Municipal School and, currently, continues to perfect his piano training under the tutelage of maestro Ramón Pascual. In November 2024, he joined VokalArs, contributing his experience and artistic sensitivity to the group.

CRISTINA LÓPEZ FRAILE

CRISTINA LÓPEZ FRAILE

Born in Madrid, she studied music theory and violin at the Rodolfo Halfter Professional Conservatory in Móstoles. She also studied Spanish Classical Dance and Classical Ballet with Esther Escudero, an activity that she developed until 2001.
In 1988 she joined the Francisco Piquer Choir in Madrid, directed by Jose Vicente Alcérreca, having the opportunity to sing in the National Auditorium under the baton of Mercedes Padilla, director of the Chamber Orchestra of Madrid.

In 1988 she joined the Francisco Piquer Choir in Madrid, directed by Jose Vicente Alcérreca, having the opportunity to sing in the National Auditorium under the baton of Mercedes Padilla, director of the Chamber Orchestra of Madrid.
She has received vocal technique classes with Amaya Añúa and Alfredo García, among others.
Since 2000 she has been a member of the Guido D'Arezzo Vocal Group of Móstoles, in which she combines her work as a singer with that of Deputy Director.
She combines musical activity with her professional activity in Banking, where she has been working since 1988, and has been certified by CUNEF as a Specialist in Banking and Financial Advice.
She has been a member of Vokalars since 2013.

SONIA LOPEZ

SONIA LOPEZ

Born in Epsom, Surrey (England), she has lived in Madrid since she was six years old. He began his musical training with music theory studies with maestro Silvestre González and participated for a decade in the Orquesta Hispánica de Pulso y Púa, where he played the bandurria and the lute. His connection with choral singing begins in the Polyphonic Choir of the Asunción Parish of Móstoles, an area in which he discovers his true musical vocation. Later he was part of various groups, including the Villaviciosa de Odón Chamber Choir, the Alcorcón Polyphonic Choir and the Carlos III University Choir. He currently combines his professional activity as a real estate agent with his participation in Vokalars.
JULIA MONK ALFARO

JULIA MONK ALFARO

Madrilenian. His musical training includes music theory and piano studies at the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music.
Professionally, he studies Teaching in the specialty of English Philology at the Complutense University of Madrid. She, already as a teacher, is selected to carry out the first Musical Specialization Course for teachers implemented by the Ministry of Education.
He has attended different Music History courses and seminars related to musical pedagogy and didactics. Her vocal training has been carried out by teachers Linda Mirabal, Lola Bosom and Laura Fernández.
He has been a stable member of the choirs Juan del Encina in Madrid, Coro de Rivas Vaciamadrid; as well as in the chamber choirs ArteSonado and Hispánico Modo, in addition to being part of larger choral projects from time to time.
She is currently a soprano in the choir of the Madrid Choral Society and since May 2022 in VokalArs.
Both from her personal facet as a teacher, or as director of a public center for early childhood and primary education, she has always transmitted the love for music and singing as an expressive resource to students.
CARMEN MONTOYA GUTIERREZ

CARMEN MONTOYA GUTIERREZ

Graduated in Music Education from the University of Granada, she has developed several children's choral music projects that have
aimed at caring for the voice, as well as the development of an aesthetic and musical capacity at this stage.
He obtained a professional degree in piano at the Ceuta Conservatory and a Master's Degree in Choral Conducting at the International University of La
Rioja.
A great lover of choral music and singing, he has received numerous courses in choir conducting, choral pedagogy and singing.
SARA RODRÍGUEZ GALLEGO

SARA RODRÍGUEZ GALLEGO

I was born in Ciudad Real and I have a degree in the teaching of music education. I did my studies at Castilla-La Mancha University.
I also have a degree in the History and Science of Music. I studied this degree at the University of Logroño ( La Rioja).
I went to college to study singing in the Professional Conservatory of Music Marcos Redondo.
Currently, I am studying singing with the soprano Milagros Poblador.
I am studying a choir conducting course at the University Carlos III in Madrid with Nuria Fernández Herranz and I have carried out several choir conducting courses with conductors such as Maite Oca, Javier Busto and Basilio Astúlez.
As being so dedicated to music eduacation I continue to attend courses of music pedagogy.
I was a member of the Cámara Oretania choir (Ciudad Real), where we got important prizes, such as, the first prize in the XL Choir Contest of Ejea de los Caballeros (Zaragoza) and the winner of the International Tournament of Music (TIM) in Verona (Italy).
I have been a member of VokalArs since March 2011.
MÓNICA RODRÍGUEZ LORANCA

MÓNICA RODRÍGUEZ LORANCA

She studied her Elementary Degree in Music at the Ángel Árias Maceín profesional conservatory. In 1997 she obtained the degree of teacher with the specialty of music education at the Complutense University of Madrid, during her studies, she becomes part of the faculty choir.

She focuses her work activity on the education of the youngest, so she also studies the specialty of early childhood teaching in 2008 at the University School of La Salle in Madrid, as well as various training courses focused on the field of children (early attention, stimulation techniques, animation workshop or children's songbook, among others). She is responsible for developing and incorporating a specific music program in the different nursery schools where she has been teaching since 2002. In 2006, she attended the pedagogy and direction of children’s choirs taught by the choir confederation of the Basque Country. He was a member of the Santa María Chamber Choir, directed by José Javier Astrain, and since the end of 2010 he has been part of the Vokalars belonging to the contraltos string.

ARACELI SALAZAR NICOLÁS

ARACELI SALAZAR NICOLÁS

Born in Madrid. He studied the career of Senior Professor of Choir Conducting with Mr. Adrián Cobo and Senior Professor of Solfeggio, Music History and Transposition with Ms. Ana María Navarrete and Mr. César Ausejo at the Superior Conservatory of Music of Madrid. Likewise, he obtained the title of Professor of Composition, Counterpoint and Fugue and Harmony, and that of Professor of Piano at the Professional Conservatory of Getafe.

He has carried out numerous choral singing workshops with prestigious teachers, such as Josu Elberdin, Javier Corcuera or Nuria Fernández Herranz, among others.

Currently, he combines teaching with various musical activities, among which is his collaboration as a singer in the choral group VokalArs.

MELANIA SUÁREZ PÉREZ

MELANIA SUÁREZ PÉREZ

Diploma in Teaching, specializing in Musical Education, from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Professional degree in singing from the Professional Music Conservatories of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) and Valencia. She has studied saxophone music and is a member of different municipal brass bands on her native island.
She has trained in musical pedagogy and choral conducting in the following institutions: Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid (Royal Advanced Conservatory of Music in Madrid), Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Carlos III University, Madrid), Orff Association Spain, Federation of Choirs of the Basque Country, Camerata Impromptu, Sevillian Federation of Choirs, Federation of Choirs of the Valencian Community, Willems Association, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) etc.
She has been a member of the following choirs: VokalArs, Carlos III University Choir of Madrid, Joven Coro de España (Spain Youth Choir), Chamber Choir of the Professional Conservatory of Music of Valencia, Orfeó Valencià Navarro Reverter, Chamber Choir of the Professional Conservatory of Music of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) and Asociación Coral Cantabile (Cantabile Choral Association).
Her professional life has been focused towards musical pedagogy, mainly through vocal education, having worked in school choirs, adult choirs, music schools, colleges, associations, etc.

ARAIZ ZUBIMENDI ALBERDI

ARAIZ ZUBIMENDI ALBERDI

Born in San Sebastian, she began her musical studies at an early age at the Conservatory of this city and studied accordion.
Born in San Sebastian, she began her musical studies at an early age at the Conservatory of this city and studied accordion. She graduated in Social Work by the Diocesan University School of Social Work. In 1988 she joined Orfeón Donostiarra choir until 1997 and studied in its Singing school. During years 1995-96 she performed the musical comedy “Las Bellas de EasO” produced by Hika theatre company. Between 1996 and 1999 she was member of the choir of Calderón Theatre in Madrid, in the opera and zarzuela seasons.
In 1999 she was part of the company Antología de la Zarzuela directed by José Tamayo, highlighting the performances in the National Auditorium of Mexico DF and the National Theatre of Aguas Calientes (Mexico).

She graduated in Singing at the professional Conservatory of music Teresa Berganza, finishing her studies in 2002. Member of Vox Aurea choir since 2002 where she was deputy conductor until 2012. She studied Choral Conducting at Carlos III University with Nuria Fernández Herranz and has been part of VokalArs since 2005
Currently she works as a Support Engineer in the financial area of an important international software company.

Email and contact telephone:

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