It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of our colleague Joaquín (Ximo) Clemente Riera on Tuesday, 18 August 2026. Ximo was a principal double bass teacher and department representative at Codarts Classical Music. With him, we lose a versatile musician, a passionate teacher, and a highly valued colleague.

Ximo stood out for his broad musical interests and his versatility as a double bassist. He felt at home across a wide range of musical styles and brought that breadth of experience into his teaching as well.

After his studies at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Valencia, Ximo continued his education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He went on to build an international career as an orchestral musician, soloist, and chamber musician. In Spain, he was affiliated for many years with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León. Since 2017 he had lived in Amsterdam, where he was active with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. He also played in various ensembles and musical projects.

Teaching formed an important part of Ximo's career. Before joining Codarts, he taught for ten years at the Conservatorio Superior de Salamanca. At Codarts, he shared his extensive expertise and experience with a new generation of double bassists.

His enthusiasm for welcoming and recruiting new students was characteristic of him. He once wrote, in a text aimed at prospective students: "Music, the mirror of your soul. Join a school that offers you the freedom and open-mindedness to discover your path. In a nurturing environment filled with motivation and a sense of home, we pursue and achieve the goals each of us aspires to." Words that show how deeply he believed in Codarts as a place where students could discover themselves — and how he embodied that belief himself.

We will greatly miss Ximo as a teacher, musician, and colleague. His dedication to his students, his professionalism, and his broad love of music will be missed within Codarts.

Our thoughts are with everyone who was close to him. We wish them strength during this difficult time.