Ricardo Molla studied composition at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Oscar Esplá in Alicante (Spain) with Joan Enric Canet and the Hochschule für Musik, Theatre und Medien Hannover (Germany). He was awarded a scholarship by the Artists’ Society of Spain (AIE) and Foundation JONDE-BBVA to study at the prestigious The Juilliard School of New York where he is pursuing his Master’s Degree in Classical Music. At this school he had the opportunity to study Musical Production and Musical Technology with Greg Kalember and Mari Kimura, respectively.
As a member of the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra (Switzerland), Ricardo had access to a numerous amount of conferences, courses and exhibitions about contemporary and electronic music, with masters such as Pièrre Boulez, Péter Eötvös, Philippe Manoury, Tristan Murail, Michael Jarrel and Matthias Pintscher. Moreover, he was invited to the Contemporary Music Festival ManiFeste-IRCAM in Paris (France), where he received tutoring from Heinz Holliger.
This series of influences have shaped his personal style, which is constantly evolving. Modern techniques such as indeterminacy and musical technology coalesce into a style that blends into Neo-Romanticism and jazz. Rhythmic experimentation and melody play significant roles in his works.
He has composed for many different musical ensembles, including solo pieces with and without piano accompaniment, chamber music, music for choir, wind band, and symphony orchestra. Some of his works have been played by musicians from the best orchestras in the world, such as Joseph Alessi (New York Philharmonic), Ian Bousfield (former member of Vienna Philharmonic), Jörgen van Rijen (Concertgebouw Orchestra), David Rejano (Los Angeles Philharmonic), Pacho Flores (International Trumpet Soloist), Riccardo Carvalhoso (Munich Philharmonic), Sérgio Carolino (International Tuba Soloist), Alberto Menéndez (BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra), etc.
Ricardo has captured a special predilection for the brass in his works. This way, in his repertoire, a wide range of pieces destined to this family, is included. Among them, it is worthy to point out the following compositions: Concerto for two trombones and orchestra, a commission by the International Trombone Festival 2015, performed in its opening by Jörgen van Rijen, Michel Becquet and the Valencia Orchestra; Sunrise in Panem, a work for trombone choir ordered by the Trombone Unit Hannover; White Sands, a piece for trombone choir commissioned by The Juilliard Trombone; The Knight of the Sorry Face, a Concerto for solo trombone and orchestra commissioned by David Rejano, Principal Trombone of Los Angeles Philharmonic; The Three Musketeers, a concerto for bass trombone, harp and piano dedicated to José Ángel Isla (Principal Bass Trombone of the Orchestra of Paris) and commissioned by the Lyon Conservatory; Echoes from Sefarad, suite for solo bass and tenor trombone with string quartet accompaniment, commissioned and dedicated to Jôao Martinho (Staatsoper Hamburg) and Yuval Wolfson; Being from another Planet, a piece for two solo tubas and piano commissioned and dedicated to Sérgio Carolino (International Tuba Soloist) and Riccardo Carvalhoso (Munich Philharmonic); etc.
In 2019, Ricardo Mollá brought together more than a hundred trombone players (both jazz and classical) around the piece “Pieter’s Song”, dedicated to the PVW Brain Tumor Foundation and Pieter Vance Wyckoff, former bass trombone of Hong Kong Philharmonic who unfortunately passed away due to this terrible disease. This piece aimed to raise awareness of brain tumors in the community and provide support to those affected by brain tumors.
Among other upcoming projects, it is worthy to point out a Concerto for two horns and orchestra dedicated to Alberto Menéndez (Principal Horn of BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra) and Javier Molina, Principal Horn of Principado de Asturias Symphony Orchestra; and a second Concerto for two trombones and orchestra dedicated to James Markey (Boston Symphony), Jeremy Wilson (former member of Vienna Philharmonic) and Ian Bousfield (former member of Vienna Philharmonic).
Finally, he is usually invited as a guest conductor in different windbands and orchestras all around the world. In this sense, he has conducted several soloists such as Alberto Menéndez (Principal Horn of BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra), Yael Fiuza (Trumpet of the Deutsche Oper Berlin), Javier Castaño (Principal Tuba of the Orchestra all Scala in Milan), among others. In September 2020 he was invited to conduct the Symphonic Windband of Tenerife in order to premiere his first Concerto for trombone and orchestra called “The Knight of the Sorry Face”, performed by David Rejano, Principal Trombone of LA Philharmonic. At this concert he also conducted his new Symphonic Poem for windband called “The Battle of Tenerife”.