In 1955, Halffter was appointed conductor of the Falla orchestra. He forged a successful career as composer and conductor, writing music which combined a traditional Spanish element with avant-garde techniques. His neoclassical "Piano Concerto" (1953) won the National Music Prize in 1954 . In 1961 he became Professor of Composition at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, where he became Director in 1964 but remained only until 1966 . Among his notable pupils are Jean-Luc Darbellay , David Philip Hefti , and Javier Jacinto .