“Conducting, performing, and teaching are three facets that fascinate me, ignite my curiosity, and drive me toward constant learning”.

Fernando Bustamante Manjavacas is a passionate conductor whose dedication led him to study with maestros Miguel Romea and Andrés Salado in Spain, and at the International Conducting Academy of the Universität der Künste in Berlin with Steven Sloane and Harry Curtis, where he earned a master’s degree in orchestral conducting. Throughout his studies, Fernando demonstrated consistent and solid progress, graduating with honors in his final concert.

Since 2011, he has served as the musical and artistic director of the Orquesta Ciudad de la Mancha, achieving great acclaim from audiences and critics alike at various national and international festivals. Under his leadership, the orchestra established the «Arte Entre Gigantes» international course and festival.

Fernando has been invited to participate in prestigious masterclasses with Daniele Gatti and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Robin Ticciati and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, as well as with maestros, Catherine Larsen-Maguire, John Carewe, Kimbo Ishii, Arthur Fagen, Leo Brouwer, and Michail Jurowski.

He has conducted the Joven Orquesta de Extremadura, Orquesta Sinfónica de Extremadura, Orquesta Sinfónica Verum, OPGB de Porto, Orquesta Opus 23, Orquesta Nacional de Ecuador, Orquesta Juvenil de Costa Rica,  Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt, Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin, Neubrandenburger Philharmonie, Brandenburger Symphoniker, Staatstheater Cottbus Orchester, Preußischen Kammerorchester, Kammerakademie Potsdam, and Magdeburgische Philharmonie.

In the field of contemporary music, he has collaborated numerous times with Ensemble Ilynx (Berlin), participating in the Kontakte Festival, Crescendo Festival, and the Zoom+Focus Concert, premiering various pieces.

Beyond orchestral conducting, he composed and directed the original musical «Clown,» which received critical and public acclaim. He has also directed musicals such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s «Evita» or Wizard Of Oz.

As a performer, Fernando began his studies in mandolin and plucked string instruments with professors Pedro Chamorro and Caridad Simón. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Conservatorio Superior de Murcia (Spain) under professor Luis Giménez and continued his specialization in mandolin with a National Postgraduate Degree in Mandolin from the Conservatory of Esch-Sur-Alzette (Luxembourg) with Juan Carlos Muñoz. He has also worked with mandolinists Marga Wilden Hüsgen and Mari Fe Pavón.

He gained recognition by securing second prize at the International Solo Mandolin Competition in Luxembourg and reaching the finals at the Yasuo Kuwahara International Mandolin Competition in Hammelburg (Germany). He has performed and toured with various chamber groups and orchestras across Spain, as well as in the USA, France, Germany, Russia, Greece, Argentina, Portugal, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, Colombia, and Ecuador. He regularly collaborates with the Orquesta Nacional de España and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid. Additionally, he has worked with the Fundación Excelentia, Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE, Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Orquesta Filarmonía, Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, and the Ballet Nacional de España.

Together with Marta Escudero, Fernando is a founding member of the ensemble La Voce del Mandolino, exploring the colors and repertoire of the Baroque mandolin alongside the extraordinary Canarian tenor Juan Antonio Sanabria.

The Orquesta Ciudad de La Mancha is one of the most prestigious plucked-string ensembles at the national level. Founded in 2011 in Campo de Criptana under the baton of Fernando Bustamante—its current artistic director—the orchestra’s permanent roster today is made up of specialist professors in guitar and plectrum instruments from different parts of Spain.

Over the years, the orchestra has developed an increasingly prominent career built on high individual quality, refined chamber-music work, as well as the difficulty and originality of its programming.

They have performed concerts throughout Spain, Italy, and Portugal, collaborating with soloists such as Antonio Serrano, Juan Antonio Sanabria, Fetén Fetén, and Abraham Cupeiro.

The orchestra also stands out for its frequent collaboration with composer Sonia Megías, an example being their participation in the project Perpetuum Mobile, held between 2019 and 2020 at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

In addition to contemporary music, the orchestra’s versatile repertoire includes original works for plectrum and guitar ensembles, Spanish music, and even pieces from jazz and flamenco. Examples include several productions presented alongside singers, solo instruments, narrators, choir, and even sand-art specialists. Among these productions are Mediterráneo. Canto al mar, Lorca, Invitación a un Viaje Sonoro, Danzando, and Sueños de Arena.

Alongside its performance activity, in 2020 the orchestra created Arte entre Gigantes, a project that combines culture and pedagogy. The initiative has grown year after year and, since its first edition, has been very well received by both audiences and critics.