Five musicians from South America who received classical music training, brought together by a shared passion for the rhythms and melodies of their homelands and a desire to share these sounds with world-wide audiences — this is Los Pitutos
Los Pitutos is a Berlin-based Latin American music ensemble made up of Chilean and Colombian musicians. Founded in Germany in 2015, the group blends classic Latin rhythms such as bolero, cumbia, joropo, and vals with original arrangements and compositions to create a warm, danceable musical style. Comprised mainly of classically trained performers, their repertoire includes both traditional melodies and original pieces. By fusing beloved Latin American styles with their own compositions — drawing inspiration from ’70s pop and funk — they have developed a unique sound.
A true labor of love shaped by the shared passion of its five members, Los Pitutos captivates audiences around the world — whether in esteemed concert halls, at festivals, or on club stages — with romantic and rhythmic boleros, cumbias, and an irresistible stage energy.
Álvaro Zambrano (vocals, piano, guitar, accordion)
A classically trained tenor, Álvaro served for many years as a principal soloist at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Leipzig Opera. He continues to perform as a soloist on international opera stages and brings his versatile musical experience to Los Pitutos.(
Matías Piñeira (horn, vocals)
Matías is the principal horn player of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. He has previously performed with the Berlin State Opera Orchestra (Staatskapelle Berlin) and the Chilean National Symphony Orchestra. His compositions give Los Pitutos’ music a special depth and character.
Tomás Peralta (bass guitar, vocals)
After studies in Argentina, The Hague, and Freiburg, Tomás now lives in Berlin where he works as a bassist and composer. His musical versatility is one of the core elements defining the group’s Groove.
Óscar Mosquera (electric guitar)
Based in Munich, guitarist and composer Óscar trained in jazz guitar and jazz composition. A sought-after musician in various projects, Mosquera adds elements of funk to the group’s sound.
Cristian Betancourt (percussion)
Cristian began his career in Venezuela within the El Sistema program and completed his studies at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK). With his rhythmic precision, he forms the energetic melodic foundation of Los Pitutos’ sound.
Murat Cem Orhan is a Turkish conductor and composer whose work is distinguished by international collaborations, visionary artistic leadership, and a commitment to cultural development. Between 2022 and 2024, he served as the Artistic Director of the İBB Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall and Principal Conductor of the CRR Symphony Orchestra, elevating the venue’s reputation and achieving its highest audience engagement in over two decades. Orhan’s academic journey includes a Bachelor’s degree in Opera Singing from Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory, a Master’s degree in Opera from Istanbul University, graduate studies in Composition and Opera at Brooklyn College of Music in New York, and a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Mimar Sinan University, where he studied under Maestro Antonio Pirolli. He also earned a Master’s degree at Hacettepe University State Conservatory, completing a thesis on R. Leoncavallo’s opera I Pagliacci under the supervision of Prof. Rengim Gökmen. In 2001, he studied at the Venice Benedetto Marcello Conservatory with Prof. Stella Silva, deepening his understanding of the Italian operatic tradition. His training was further enriched through masterclasses with Renato Bruson at the Accademia Chigiana Musicale, Raina Kabaivanska in Sofia, Bulgaria, and with distinguished maestros such as Jorma Panula, Alparslan Ertungealp, Michel Tabachnik, and William Hicks of the New York Metropolitan Opera. As a composer, he won the N.F. Eczacıbaşı National Composition Competition twice (2010 and 2012) and has written three children’s musicals. In 2018, he composed the oratorio Kuva-yi Milliye'nin İnsan Manzaraları, inspired by Nazım Hikmet’s epic poem, and reached the finals of the 4th Svetlanov Conducting Competition in Paris. As a conductor, Orhan’s operatic repertoire is extensive, including Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Così Fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro, Fidelio, Il Matrimonio Segreto, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, L’Elisir d’Amore, La Bohème, Turandot and the Turkish operetta Ayşe. He has led all major orchestras and opera houses in Turkey, bringing nuanced interpretations and a strong musical personality to every production. Internationally, Orhan has collaborated with ensembles such as the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zielona Góra Philharmonic Orchestra, Pori Sinfonietta, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Albanian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, the Azerbaijan Opera Orchestra, the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra, and Sinfonica Città di Grosseto. His recent performance with the Olten Philharmonic Orchestra at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (2024) was met with critical acclaim. As Artistic Director of the CRR Symphony Orchestra, he led a noteworthy performance at the Preludi D’Autunno Festival in Teatro Fraschini, Pavia, Italy, featuring works by Italian composers influenced by Turkish culture. In response to the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake, Orhan initiated a project in collaboration with the Metz Grand Est National Orchestra, under the auspices of the Istanbul Music Festival, to provide instruments to musicians affected by the disaster. His recorded repertoire includes Turkish flute concertos featuring Bülent Evcil. Orhan’s artistry has drawn distinguished soloists to collaborate with him, including Fazıl Say, Maxim Vengerov, Sabine Meyer, Boris Berezovsky, Pietro Spagnoli, Dmitry Shishkin, Dag Jensen, Lucas Macías Navarro, Bruno Schneider, Alban Gerhardt, Kristóf Baráti, Hanna-Elisabeth Müller, and Joë Christophe. He is fluent in Italian , French and English, enabling him to engage with a wide array of artists and organizations across the globe
Orkestra Akademik Başkent was founded on October 29, 2003, under the patronage of Mehmet Haberal, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Başkent University. From its establishment until 2018, the orchestra’s principal conductor was Ertuğ Korkmaz and its artistic director was İsmail Lütfü Erol. In addition to its regular concert series primarily held at the Bağlıca Campus of Başkent University and various venues in Ankara, the orchestra has toured across Türkiye and abroad, performed at festivals, and produced recordings. Its repertoire spans from the Baroque period to contemporary music, and it has presented numerous world premieres to critical acclaim.
The orchestra has collaborated with distinguished soloists and conductors including Aneleen Lenaerts, Benyamin Sönmez, Cihat Aşkın, Davide Alogna, Emre Elivar, Emre Şen, Enrique Bátiz, Gökhan Aybulus, Gustav Rivinius, Gülsin Onay, Gürer Aykal, İdil Biret, Igor Pikayzen, Lucienne Renaudin-Vary, Martin Berkofsky, Rocco Filippini, Salvatore Accardo, Soyoung Yoon, and Tunç Ünver. It has also performed with respected artists affiliated with the Başkent University State Conservatory—such as Kamerhan Turan, Rauf Paşaoğlu, Gülüm Sürmen Ötenel, Sibel Sarıcan Gündüz, Sevinç Keser Varol, Kaan Yüksel, Cem Çeliksırt, and Berkcan Akıncı—as well as with soloists from within its own ranks.
The orchestra was invited to the St. Petersburg Piano Festival, held on the occasion of UNESCO’s 60th anniversary, and gave the opening concert as the first orchestra invited from Türkiye. In 2017, it was invited to Baku for the Üzeyir Hacıbeyov International Festival. In 2018, it appeared on the album Turkish Guitar Concertos released by Çağsav. In 2022, in collaboration with ODTÜ Computer Engineering Department and with the support of Panaromic Web, it produced Türkiye’s first VR concert recording. Since 2018, the orchestra’s General Artistic Director and Principal Conductor has been Orhun Orhon.