JURy
ALBERT ATTENELLE
PRESIDENT
Spanish pianist. Professor of Barcelona High Conservatory of Music “Liceu”
Spanish pianist. He was born in Barcelona, early showing his talent for music. At the age of six he gave his first recital in his hometown. The great pedagogue Frank Marshall, who attended the concert, took charge of his piano training from that moment, transferring to him in the course of the following years the legacy of the Catalan piano school that goes back to Joaquín Malats , Ricardo Viñes and Albéniz , going through Granados and Marshall himself. Later he expanded his studies in Paris with Professor Marcel Ciampi .
His performance as a soloist with the Bilbao and Barcelona orchestras in 1957, as well as his winning various International Awards, place him at the forefront of the piano current affairs of his generation.
His career has developed as a soloist and performer of chamber music in Europe, America and Japan; As a soloist with large orchestras, he has performed a large number of concertos from Bach to contemporary ones, passing through Beethoven, Chopin, Franck , Schumann, Ravel, Stravinsky , Poulenc , Saint -Saens , Prokofieff , Bartok , etc., under the direction of conductors like Janos Sandor , Peter Maag , Ros – Marbà , Ronald Zolmann , Walter Weller , Gary Bertini, Christopher Hogwood , etc …
In possession of a large repertoire that covers all styles, he has paid special attention to the composers of the 20th century, which has led him to offer the first audition of Mompou ‘s Música Callada or to repeatedly perform Luis’ Concertos for piano and orchestra. de Pablo, Roberto Gerhard or Xavier Montsalvatge among others.
From his discography we would highlight the Concertos for piano and orchestra by Luis de Pablo, Roberto Gerhard, as well as volumes dedicated to Déodat de Séverac and Joaquín Nin-Culmell ( Anacrusi ). In chamber music, and as a member of the Barcelona Trio , Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and the Mendelssohn and Dvorak Trios ( Harmonia world ). He has recently published a double CD with the complete Iberia and La Vega by Isaac Albéniz under the Columna Música label and a double CD dedicated to Federico Mompou has just been released under the same label that includes the complete Música Callada, Suburbis and Variations on a Theme by Chopin.
He has recently performed in Australia presenting different programs including Iberia by Albéniz , Danzas Españolas by Granados, Música Callada by Mompou and Fantasia Bética by Manuel de Falla.
He has published a revised edition of Isaac Albéniz ‘s Suite Iberia, and is in possession of the Albéniz Medal of the City Council of Camprodón for his contribution to the dissemination of the music of this brilliant composer.
He is President of the Competition Jury since 2016.
ERNESTO ROCÍO BLANCO
SECRETARY
Spanish pianist.
He began his musical studies at the Conservatory of Santa Cruz de Tenerife with María Isabel Pérez Canino and Amparo Barrera, continuing them in Seville with Ramón Coll and later at the Superior Conservatory of Music in Madrid with Professor Guillermo González and his assistant Consuelo Mejías, obtaining the Superior Degree in Piano with outstanding and Honorable Mention.
He is in possession of the Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) in the Department of Didactics and School Organization and Special Didactics, Doctorate program of “Curricular, technological and institutional innovation”. He has participated in different International Pianistic Interpretation Courses taught by Vlado Perlemuter , Paul Badura-Skoda , Joaquín Achúcarro , Esteban Sánchez, José Francisco Alonso etc.
He regularly teaches Piano Improvement courses, among which it is worth highlighting the “Manuel de Falla” International Courses in Granada, the Musical Improvement Cycles at the Professional Music Conservatory of Jaén, the Summer Courses organized by the University of Murcia, held in Águilas , the Interpretation Courses “Ciudad de Jamilena ” of which he has been an uninterrupted teacher since 1999 and the Improvement Courses of the Professional Conservatory of Úbeda.
He has given recitals as a soloist and in chamber groups in different Spanish and European cities. Critics have highlighted his sensitivity and technique: “Ernesto Rocío obtains beautiful sonorities from the instrument, through a safe and clear mechanism” (El Mundo).
He has been Tenured Professor of piano at the Conservatory of Music of Madrid, professor and vice-director at the Professional Conservatory of Music of Jaén and professor at the Conservatory of Music of Jaén.
Since 1997 he has been a member of the Advisory Board of the International Piano Competition “Premio Jaén”, and Secretary of the Competition since 2019.
PILAR BILBAO
VOCAL
Spanish pianist. Born in Bilbao.
His musical training began at an early age. Her mother, Pilar Iturburu , initiated her piano studies, interpreting pieces by Mozart, Schumann and Beethoven at the age of four. At the age of seven he was presented for the first time to the public in Bilbao, causing an excellent impression.
Later he continued his higher studies at the Madrid Conservatory with Pedro Lerma. His training is completed under the guidance and advice of prestigious teachers such as Hans Graf, Bruno Seidlhofer , Vlado Perlemuter , Nikita Magaloff and Claudio Arrau , who had a notable influence on him.
He has made concert tours of Germany, Portugal, Belgium, England and Italy, with extraordinary critical and public success, always standing out for his great musicality and artistic maturity.
He has been a soloist with the Israel Chamber Orchestras, Palazzo Pitti in Florence, Pro-Música and Madrid Symphony, Bilbao Symphony, ROSS in Seville, Collegium Bonn Musicum , BBC Symphony etc., under the direction of maestros García Asensio, Spiteri , Bolet , Wolf Ferrari, Ziino , Platen , Lockaert , Commissioner, etc.
His prizes and awards include the Extraordinary Prize for Chamber Music, the “End of Degree” Honor Award, Diploma and Silver Medal at the Pozzoli International Competition in Seregno (Italy), Diploma and Gold Medal at the “ Viotti ” International Competition ” in Vercelli (Italy), “Ibañez de Betolaza ” Prize, Prize in the International Competition “F. Bussoni ” in Bolzano (Italy), Absolute First Prize in the Musical Interpretation Contest organized by RNE and the General Directorate of Fine Arts, Cruz de Alfonso X “El Sabio”.
He has made recordings for RNE, Canal Sur Televisión as well as recorded records for Movieplay and Etnos, obtaining with the latter the Ministry of Culture Award for the complete Preludes for piano by Padre Donosti .
She is regularly invited to be a member of the Jury of important Piano Competitions, as well as to teach piano improvement courses.
Since 1978 she has been Professor of Piano by opposition at the Superior Conservatory of Music of Seville. In 2003, she entered the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa Isabel de Hungría in Seville as a Numerary Academician. In 2007, she joined the faculty of the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music as a professor.
RALF NATTKEMPER
VOCAL
German pianist.
German pianist. Ralf Nattkemper is widely recognized by international critics as one of the most exceptional representatives of the German piano tradition. I study with the Russian-Brazilian pianist Yara Bernette, the Italian-Argentine Fausto Zadra and with Wilhelm Kempff.
He plays regularly in most European countries and musical centers, such as Hamburg, Rotterdam, Brussels, Venice, Rome, Madrid, Tokyo, Caracas, Sofia, etc., and is a frequent guest at numerous festivals, such as in Venice, Verona, Assisi, Santander, Wallonie or Colonia Tovar (Venezuela). He has played with renowned orchestras, such as l’orchestre de chambre de Lausanne, Hamburger Symphoniker, Bucharest Radio Symphony, Caracas Municipal, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony, Nagoya Symphonic, etc.
His repertoire extends from Bach to Messiaen, with special emphasis on German classics and Romantic composers. Especially highlighted by the public and critics is his deep knowledge and sensitivity to Schubert’s music, which has become the central part of his repertoire and recitals in recent years.
Ralf Nattkemper is in high demand as a teacher. In addition to being the head of the Piano department at the University of Hamburg, he has offered master classes in New York, Tokyo, Brussels, Venice, Rotterdam, Lausanne, Girona, Lisbon, Madrid, Fulda (Pianale) and many others. In 2011 he was nominated as a visiting professor at Aichi University of Music in Nagoya. Since 2011 he has taught regularly at Yamaha Masterclasses.
He has been invited as a member of the jury of numerous international competitions, such as Brussels, Rome, Messina, Caltanissetta, Vibo Valentia, Sofia, San Sebastián, Jaén, Tokyo, etc.
Its students have won prizes in important international competitions and have won musical awards, such as the Echo Klassik. Many of them are today piano professors at renowned universities in Germany and other countries.
DANIEL LEVY
VOCAL
Argentinean pianist.
Born in Buenos Aires, Daniel Levy studied under the renowned piano teachers Vincenzo Scaramuzza and Ana Gelber. Early career landmarks include winning the international piano competitions ‘Jeunesses Musicales’ and the ‘Mozarteum’. He was awarded a scholarship by the Rocca Foundation to study in Italy with Sergio Lorenzi and Maria Tipo, before embarking upon a highly successful concert career that has spanned four decades.
Daniel Levy has an extensive discography that transcends the traditional barriers of styles and genres, with recordings that range from Bach to Piazzolla’s original piano compositions. His recording of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.1 has been described by Fanfare Magazine’s Bernard Jacobson as being one that ‘ranks with the very best’, while his rousing interpretation of Liszt’s transcription of Wagner’s Isolden Liebestod was acclaimed by Gramophone (UK) as being ‘an exceptional, thrilling experience, climax building on climax’.
His interpretation of the Schubert Sonatas are considered to be among the best versions, Bernard Jacobson declared that they take their ‘place alongside Brendel’s and Lupu’s in my Pantheon of treasured interpretations’.
Undoubtedly, Daniel Levy is recognised as one of the finest interpreters of Schumann in the world today. His series of stunning recordings have drawn high praise from international critics, applauding the ‘sheer grandeur’ that he brings to Schumann’s works (In Tune, Japan), and the remarkable level of virtuosity that led Gramophone magazine to exclaim ‘It would be hard to find a more beautiful version’ in their critique of Schumman’s Lieder, recorded with the Austrian baritone Wolfgang Holzmair.
Levy’s interpretation of Papillons and the Fantasie were declared to be ‘a vital addition to Schumann’s discography’ by Fanfare Magazine (USA).
He has recently been appointed to the post of artistic director of the Ascona Music Festival in Switzerland.
GRAHAM SCOTT
VOCAL
English pianist.
Graham is Head of the School of Keyboard Studies. Hailed by the Gramophone magazine as “an exceptional talent” he has performed extensively throughout the world most notably in New York (92nd St. Y), Washington DC (Kennedy Center), Los Angeles (Ambassador Auditorium), Tokyo (Suntory Hall), Beijing (Beijing Concert Hall), Paris (Bagatelle) as well as all the major London venues (Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Barbican Centre.)
He has performed with leading orchestras, notably the London Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National, Monte Carlo Philharmonic, Belgium National Symphony, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinlandpfalz (standing in for Martha Argerich), Cape Town Symphony, Singapore Symphony, St Louis Symphony and the New York Chamber Symphony under such conductors as Sir Charles Groves, Bernhard Klee, Marin Alsop, Paul Daniel, Barry Wordsworth and Alexander Lazarev.
Graham’s discography includes CDs of works by Scriabin, Gershwin, Macmillan and a live recital CD from Los Angeles. He has broadcast on BBC Radio and National Public Radio in the USA.
Graham studied with Professor Ryszard Bakst at both Chetham’s School of Music and the RNCM. He became the first artist to win both the YCA Inc. auditions in New York and the YCAT auditions in London. He also won the Dudley National Piano Competition and the Jaen International Piano Competition in Spain.
Since 2007 he has held the position of Head of Keyboard Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Artistic Director of the RNCM James Mottram International Piano Competition. He has previously been a member of the jury of the Horowitz Competition in Ukraine, Jaen International Piano Competition in Spain and the YCAT auditions.
Graham has taught at many summer schools most notably Musicfest Perugia in Italy, the Colburn Festival Academy in Los Angeles, the Chethams International Piano Summer School in Manchester and the Beijing International Music Festival and Academy.
MICHIKO TSUDA
VOCAL
Japanese pianist.
The Japanese pianist Michiko Tsuda received her first music lesson before her fourth birthday. Her unusual musical talent soon became apparent, and at the age of seven she gave a public performance of Mozart’s A-Minor Piano Concert KV 488. By this time she was also performing her own compositions – songs and character pieces for piano. Her musical gifts became even more evident when she won several Japanese Youth music competitions.
After completing her studies with Kazuko Yasukawa at the Tokyo University of Arts Michiko Tsuda travelled to Europe in 1974 and studied at the Conservatoire Royal in Brussels with the Spanish pianist Eduardo del Pueyo. From him she acquired her profound knowledge of Spanish piano music which was honoured by a special prize for Interpretation of Spanish Music at the Festival of Santander in 1980. Having already been awarded prizes in international piano competitions, in 1976 she went on to win the Premio Jaen in 1976 and the Vina del Mar Prize in Chile in 1978.
Michiko Tsuda has lived in Switzerland since 1980 and continues to give concerts worldwide. She frequently performs with well-known orchestras in Europe, Japan and North and South America and has also given many recitals. Her Tokyo Cycle is a series of recitals which have enchanted her audiences in Tokyo. In 2001 Michiko Tsuda initiated her own festival concert entitled: MTMT (Michiko Tsuda Musik Treffen/Meet the Music of Michiko Tsuda) in the Kleiner Tonhalle Saal (the small concert hall) in Zurich. Her repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary composers and includes numerous little-known works.
Her CD recordings appear under the „Cyprès“ label. Her outstanding technique, a method developed by Franz Liszt and systemised by Marie Jaël, produces a controlled touch which lead to a brilliant and exceptional transparency of sound and a tremendous strength that is always delicately mastered.
MARIA ZISI
VOCAL
Greek pianist.
Maria Zisi was born in Greece. At the age of 14 he entered the Munich Higher School of Music to study with Karl- Hermann . Mrongovius and Begona Uriarte. He finished his studies with the “ Meisterklasse ” diploma.
From 2001 to 2003 he studied with Joaquín Soriano at the Superior Conservatory of Music in Madrid. He participated in several improvement courses with professors such as: Alexis Weissenberg (award for the best course participant), Cecile Ouset , Maria Tipo, Paul Badura Scoda , Nikolai Petrof and Jean -Francoix Heisser . He has obtained scholarships from the “ Onassis”, “IKY ” and “ Friends of Music ” foundations in Greece and from the “Chopin Gesellschaft Hannover” in Germany.
In 1994 he won the 1st Prize of the Contest ” Jugend musiziert ” in Germany. Likewise, in the year 2000, the 1st Prize in the International Competitions of Jaén and Ferrol and – in both competitions – the Prize for the best interpretation of Spanish music. In 2002 she was awarded the Grand Prize at the “José Iturbi ” International Piano Competition , the Prize for the best interpretation of Spanish music and the Prize for the best interpretation of a Beethoven concerto.
He has performed as a soloist with the young Bavarian Orchestra, with the Bayonne Symphony Orchestra, the Bad Reichenhall , the Thesaloniki National Symphony Orchestra in Greece, with the Valencia Orchestra, with the “ Deutsches Kammerorchester ” at the Berlin Philarmonie and with the Berlin Comic Opera Orchestra at the Athens Festival at the Herodion Theater . In 2019 he participated as a soloist in the project for the refoundation of the Orquesta de Cámara de Canarias at the Teatro Guimerá in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
She has made recital tours in Germany and Japan, a guest of the Kawai firm . She has performed at the Palau de la Música in Valencia, at the Gasteig in Munich – a recital broadcast live on Radio Bavaria -, at the Juan March Foundation in Madrid, Switzerland, invited as first prize in the Alexis Weissenberg course – , at the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome, in Austria and in Turkey. He has made productions for the archives of Radio de Baviera (BR4) and for Radio Nacional de España and in 2004 his first CD was released with Las Goyescas de Granados.
He lives in Spain and currently, after having passed the opposition for the Piano Chair, teaches at the Conservatory of Music of Navarra in Pamplona.
