Fundación Albéniz

The Albéniz Foundation is a private, non-profit institution, created in 1987 by Paloma O’Shea to provide a legal and institutional structure for the Reina Sofía School of Music, which opened its doors in 1991. In addition to the School, the Foundation has promoted the Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition since 1972, and the Santander Music and Academy Encounter since 2001.

The statutory aims of the Foundation —to promote music and musical education— are based on the beneficial nature of music as a factor of personal transformation and social cohesion, and are embodied in all the Foundation’s programs: both the School and the Encounter and the Competition aim to support young musicians in their development and bring music closer to people.

In the more than 30 years since its creation, the Foundation has facilitated the first professional steps of more than 1,500 young musicians and has brought music to the reach of hundreds of thousands of people.