Cuban-American composer and conductor Odaline de la Martinez was the first woman in history to conduct a BBC Prom at the Royal Albert Hall, aged 34, and has since conducted orchestras all over the world.
Martinez received numerous awards including a Marshall Scholarship from the British Government, a Guggenheim Fellowship, was made a Fellow at the Academy and received the Villa Lobos Medal from the Brazilian Government. In 2017 Martinez received a Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2019 a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the University of Surrey, a Gold Badge from the Ivors Academy of Composers and Song Writers, and a LUKAS Lifetime Achievement Award for her accomplishments as a woman and a member of the Latin American Community. In 2020 Martinez was made Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey.
Martinez’s opera trilogy Imoinda – A Story of Love and Slavery received its World Premiere at the 7th London Festival of American Music in 2019 to critical acclaim.
Martinez was co-curator of Julliard’s 2020 Trailblazers Festival featuring Trailblazer Women Composers.
Recent commissions include Cuban Dances for the European Lilith Ensemble and Four Afro Cuban Poems for the 8th London Festival of American Music.