“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.