Etni Molletones

Etni Molletones is currently Solo Flute of the Badische Staatskapelle in Karlsruhe as well as at the Opernhaus Zürich. He also serves on the board of the cultural and educational foundation “OPUS sounds and life,” a non-profit organization through which he makes an important musical and social contribution to the young musicians of his country.

Etni began his musical studies in Venezuela at the age of nine and began playing with the Orquesta Juvenil de Aroa. He went on to the Conservatory “Blanca estrella de Méscoli” with the Prof. Manuel Rojas and José Luis Ramirez, and at the same time held a position at the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yaracuy. Etni continued his studies at the Music Conservatory “Simón Bolívar” of Caracas with the Prof. Víctor Rojas and received his Bachelor degree at the Universidad central de Venezuela in 2016.

At the age of 16 while he was a student in Caracas, Etni won the opportunity to become 1st Flute in the celebrated Orquesta Sinfónica “Simón Bolívar” under Gustavo Dudamel. With this orchestra, he had the opportunity to tour the world playing in the most prestigious concert halls including Philharmonie in Berlin, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Teatro Alla Scala in Milano, Salzburg Festival, Palau de la Música in Barcelona, KKL Luzern, Megaron and Herodes Atticus in Athens, Royal Abert Concert Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. During this time, Etni had the great privilege to play under the baton of important conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Sir. Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, Frühbeck de Burgos, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Nikolaus Hanonkurt, Gustavo Dudamel, and others. He also collaborated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Stockholm Royal Philharmonic Orchestras.

In 2017, Etni was accepted into Prof. Mario Caroli’s class at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg, France. In 2018, Etni completed his specialization with the distinction “très bien à l’unanimité avec félicitations du jury.” He then continued his studies with Prof. Mario Caroli at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, where he earned his Master’s degree in 2019.

Upon his arrival in Europe, Etni won prizes at several international flute competitions:  

•          1st Prize at the International “Jeune Flûtiste” Flute Competition in Paris
•          1st Prize at the International “Concours Artistique d’Epinal-France”
•          1st Prize at the “Domenico Cimarosa in Italia”
•          1st Prize at the International “Dinu Lipatti” Flute Competition in Bucharest 
•          Gold Medal at the “Berliner International Music Competition”

He also won the “Pierre Pfimlin” Prize in Strasbourg, as the best student of Chamber Music and Flute.