Conductor

As of September 2024, Mario Calzada is the new conductor of the CoMA Maastricht Ensemble.
Mario started his musical career as a young child, among others singing in the choir led by his father. 

In 2016 he finished his Bachelor of music in composition in Madrid. He then moved to Maastricht where he studied jazz-drums (Bachelor in 2021), followed by a master in Pedagogy and Musical Investigation in Valencia (2024). In the meantime, he was active as conductor of several (student) ensembles.
Since 2022 Mario teaches Jazz Theory at the Maastricht Conservatory. Next to that Mario is active as a jazz-drummer, free improvisor and contemporary player on an international level, performing among others in Latvia, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. He played with international jazz luminaries John Goldsby and Billy Test, resulting in the recording of his composition, Itaka.
In June 2025 he finished his master of classical composition in the class of Vykintas Baltakas at the Maastricht Conservatory. He is dedicated to composing contemporary music, flamenco and jazz music for big bands.