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The New York Times heralds Spanish clarinetist José Franch-Ballester as “a natural on stage” who plays with “technical wizardry and tireless enthusiasm.” Mr. Franch-Ballester joined the Astral Artists roster as a winner of its 2004 National Auditions. Astral recently presented him in a concert entitled “José Franch-Ballester & Friends.” Astral has also presented him in a chamber music performance at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and as soloist in Copland’s Clarinet Concerto at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts; he also performed the Copland in Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s under Keith Lockhart. Mr. Franch-Ballester also performs as a member of the Astral woodwind quintet the Astral Winds. Born into a family of musicians, including clarinetists and Zarzuela singers, Mr. Franch-Ballester began clarinet lessons at the age of nine and went on to study at the Conservatorio Superior de Musica Joaquín Rodrigo de Valencia. Upon completion of his studies at the Conservatorio he entered the Curtis Institute of Music, where he graduated in 2005. A first-prize winner of the 2004 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, he is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including First Prize in Spain’s First Clarinet Competition Allegro and in the IV Competition of Interpretive Soloists Francisco Hernandez Guirado. He was also the first-prize winner of the competition of the Consellería de Cultura de la Generalitat Valencia for three consecutive years, in 2000, 2001, and 2002.