Madrid, 6 February 2025 - With the aim of supporting the dissemination of the arts in society and promoting equal opportunities for vulnerable individuals and groups, Fundación Aon España and the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía have signed a collaboration agreement.

Paloma O’Shea, Founding President of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, and Pedro Tomey, General Director of Fundación Aon España, have signed this agreement, through which Fundación Aon España will strengthen its mission of social and professional integration of vulnerable individuals by supporting and hosting the music workshops and projects developed by the School for these communities. Additionally, both institutions will collaborate on the organisation of a charity concert in support of those affected by the DANA storm and to promote the professional integration of individuals at risk of social exclusion. This event will also commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Fundación Aon España and will take place at the Sony Auditorium of the Escuela Reina Sofía.

The Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, committed to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals, works towards the artistic and personal development of young musicians and the dissemination of music within society. The School firmly believes in the power of music to transform individuals and drive social progress. As a result, many of its concerts and workshops focus on raising musical awareness and highlighting the benefits of music for groups at risk of social exclusion.

For the Escuela Reina Sofía, this agreement aligns with its proactive policy of creating partnerships with organisations that strive for a better society. As Paloma O’Shea highlighted: “The collaboration with Fundación Aon fits perfectly with the dual mission that the School has had since its inception: on one hand, contributing to the development of culture by training our young musicians, and on the other, bringing music closer to society under the belief that the arts serve as a powerful tool for social cohesion and development.”

Pedro Tomey also expressed: “It is a great satisfaction to collaborate with the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía to jointly contribute to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment, enriching society’s cultural life, and promoting access to music as a tool for social transformation.” He further added: “This year, we wanted to celebrate a charity concert to help those affected by the DANA storm and support the professional integration of individuals at risk of social exclusion through music. There is no better place to hold this solidarity event, in which we will commemorate Fundación Aon’s 10th anniversary, than this iconic School, which reflects the values and commitment that have guided our work over the past decade.”

Madrid, 30 January 2025 — The Reina Sofía School of Music and the Sinfonía Foundation have signed an agreement that strengthens their mutual commitment to the development of musical talent and the promotion of classical music in the Dominican Republic and Spain.

The signing took place at the School's headquarters in Madrid, with the participation of Julia Sánchez Abeal, CEO of the Reina Sofía School of Music; Margarita Miranda de Mitrov, President of the Sinfonía Foundation; and Marisol Rodríguez Copello, Co-President of the same institution.

This agreement, which consolidates a historic collaboration between both entities, aims to implement joint initiatives in three key areas:

• Masterclasses by professors and Alumni of the Reina Sofía School of Music. These sessions will allow Dominican students and musicians to benefit from the experience of renowned music professionals.
• Scholarships for young Dominican talents. The agreement includes a scholarship for Dominican students who pass the admission process of the Reina Sofía School of Music. This scholarship aims to provide access to an excellent musical education, fostering the professional development of highly talented musicians.
• Concerts in the Dominican Republic featuring students and Alumni of the School. Organization of musical events in the Dominican Republic, bringing high-quality performances to the Dominican audience and strengthening cultural exchange between both countries.

A historic relationship and a promising future

This agreement strengthens a long-standing connection between the two institutions. The co-founder of the Sinfonía Foundation, Margarita Copello de Rodríguez, known in the Dominican Republic as "The Lady of Music," shared a close friendship with Paloma O’Shea, founder of the Reina Sofía School, and was inspired by her successful cultural work.

Since 1999, the Sinfonía Foundation has presented the three winners of the prestigious Santander Paloma O’Shea International Piano Competition at the Carlos Piantini Hall of the National Theater in Santo Domingo. This historic competition has been organized by the Albéniz Foundation in Spain since 1972. The last edition of the competition took place in 2022, and in 2025, Sinfonía will host the final "Winners' Gala" of this competition in Santo Domingo, marking a significant chapter in its collaboration with the Albéniz Foundation.

With the signing of this agreement, both institutions reaffirm and renew their commitment to promoting musical excellence and inspiring future generations of musicians.

Madrid, 29 January 2025.- The Reina Sofía School of Music and Oviedo Filarmonía signed a collaboration agreement this Wednesday, allowing students of the "Zubin Mehta" Orchestra Conducting Chair to continue advancing in their training alongside a prestigious professional orchestra.

The agreement was signed by Julia Sánchez Abeal, CEO of the School, and María Riera, General Director of Oviedo Filarmonía. Also attending the event were the orchestra’s principal conductor, Lucas Macías, the School’s Dean, Òscar Colomina, and its Artistic Director, Juan A. Mendoza V.

Thanks to this collaboration, conducting students, under the direction of Maestro Nicolás Pasquet, will have the opportunity to rehearse with Oviedo Filarmonía in February 2026 and culminate their work with a concert at the Teatro Filarmónica in Oviedo. These hands-on experiences are essential for the preparation of young conductors, who find in the Reina Sofía School of Music a space to develop at the highest level.

With this partnership, Oviedo Filarmonía joins other national and international orchestras and institutions collaborating with the School in its mission to train and support the future professionals of classical music. This agreement also strengthens the School's commitment to providing its students with real-world experiences that prepare them for their professional careers and bring their talent closer to the public.

Through initiatives like this, the Reina Sofía School of Music continues to establish itself as a leader in music education, connecting its students with top-level orchestras and creating opportunities for the development of young talent.

The School’s Orchestra Conducting Chair, supported by Aline Foriel-Destezet, was launched in the current academic year, 2024-2025, offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Orchestra Conducting Studies. The participation of students and faculty in these practical experiences is made possible thanks to the support of the Banco Sabadell Foundation.

Online Information Sessions

Madrid, 22 January 2025.- The cultural activities of the Real Casino de Madrid now have a new partner, the Reina Sofía School of Music.

Julia Sánchez Abeal, CEO of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, and Fernando Eguidazu Palacios, President of the Real Casino de Madrid, signed a collaboration agreement this morning, by which the cultural and recreational society will host a concert series produced by the internationally renowned centre for young musicians.

The members of the Real Casino will enjoy music performed by the young artists of the Reina Sofía School of Music. From Thursday, 30 January, and until May, five unique concerts will be held in the magnificent setting of the Salón Príncipe, where the Afternoon Concerts take place monthly.

The series will begin with a flute recital at 7:00 PM on 30 January. American flutist Matthew Origel and Spanish flutist Marta Chelet will perform works by Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Godard, Widor, Enescu, and Jolivet, accompanied on the piano by faculty pianist Luis Arias.

The second concert, on Thursday, 27 February, will feature the Cuarteto Arriaga de Banco de España. Established at the Reina Sofía School of Music in 1995, this quartet has studied with Antonello Farulli, Alasdair Tait, and Márta Gulyás, among other professors. Their current formation studies under the guidance of Heime Müller, professor of the String Quartet Department. In 2010, they received the Most Outstanding Chamber Group Mention in the piano group category from Her Majesty Queen Sofía. They also received the same Mention in the string quartet category in 2024.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the quartet is composed of Irene Herrero and Gustavo Gil (violins), Adriana Julio (viola), and Álvaro Lozano (cello). They will perform works by Kreisler and Shostakovich at 7:00 PM.

Continuing the Thursday tradition, on 20 March at 7:00 PM, the third session will bring the Trío Amy Beach to the Salón Príncipe of the Real Casino de Madrid. This piano trio, created in 2024, studies under Márta Gulyás, Professor of the Piano Group Department. Its three young members are violinist Cecilia Novella (Valencia, Spain, 2005), cellist Friederike Herold (Pirna, Germany, 2005), and pianist Evelina Medvedko (Novosibirsk, Russia, 2004). Their repertoire will include works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich.

In May, the final two concerts. On Thursday, 22 May, two students from the “Alfredo Krauss” Fundación Ramón Areces Vocal Chair, Colombian soprano Marlín González and Venezuelan tenor Pedro Nieves, will offer a vocal recital featuring works by Mozart, Donizetti, Verdi, Gounod, Puccini, Sorozábal, Guerrero, Torroba, Roig, and Penella.

Finally, on Thursday, 29 May, Michael Davidman, an American pianist and student of the Fundación Banco Santander Piano Chair under Professor Stanislav Ioudenitch, who has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Monterey Symphony, and the West Point Band, will present a solo recital.

Madrid, January 21, 2025. The Reina Sofía School of Music is collaborating with the Spanish Royal Mint to present the ‘Young Talents’ concert series, featuring four chamber music concerts at the Casa de la Moneda Museum Auditorium in Madrid.

The four concerts in the series will take place at 7:00 PM on four consecutive Thursdays, starting on January 23 and concluding on February 13. Admission to all concerts is free until full capacity is reached.

The first concert in the series, on Thursday, January 23, will feature Dúo Contrapunto, formed by clarinetist Olivér Kusztós (Hungary, 2003) and pianist Mariam Chitanava (Russia, 1998). Their program will include works by Weber, Brahms, and Bernstein.

On January 30, trumpet player Óscar Julián Tapie (Colombia, 1999) will take the stage alongside the Fanny Hensel Trio, a trumpet ensemble composed of Alba García (Spain, 2003), Marc Ferrando (Spain, 2005), and Francisco José Lopes (Portugal, 2001). Their recital will feature works from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries by composers such as Johann Friedrich Fasch, Alessandro Marcello, Vassily Brandt, Henri Tomasi, George Enescu, and Arthur Honegger, with piano accompaniment by faculty pianist Marharyta Kozlovska.

As the third event in the series, on February 6, the Victoria Trio, a newly formed ensemble at the Reina Sofía School of Music, will perform at the Casa de la Moneda Museum Auditorium. The ensemble, created in 2024 under the guidance of Heime Müller, professor in the String Quartet Department, consists of Joaquín Hernando (Spain, 2006), violin; Amalia Bosch (Spain, 2007), viola; and Hugo Domínguez (Spain, 2008), cello. They will present a repertoire featuring Baroque and early Classical works by Bach and Beethoven.

The final concert in the ‘Young Talents’ series, on February 13, will showcase wind instruments. The Scarlatti Quintet of Casa de la Moneda will perform pieces by Franz Danzi, Malcolm Arnold, Jacques Ibert, Julio Medaglia, and Paul Hindemith. The ensemble was created at the Reina Sofía School of Music in 1996 through the sponsorship of the Spanish Royal Mint. Over the years, it has performed in venues such as the Petit Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the Casa de la Moneda Auditorium, the Casa de Cantabria, the Palacio Marqués de Salamanca, the Sinagoga del Tránsito in Toledo, and the Osuna Professional Music Conservatory. For the current academic year, the quintet includes Miguel Flores (Spain, 2003), flute; Lucía Talavera (Spain, 2005), oboe; María Castillo (Spain, 2000), clarinet; Kaleb Bou (Ethiopia, 2004), bassoon; and Paula Cerdán (Spain, 2022), horn.

Madrid, November 27, 2024 – Fundación Cajasol and the Reina Sofía School of Music have signed a collaboration agreement that strengthens their shared commitment to the training and development of talented young musicians and to the dissemination of music as a tool for cultural transformation.

The agreement, signed by Paloma O´Shea, Founding President of the School, and Antonio Pulido, President of Fundación Cajasol, will allow the Foundation to sponsor the Quinteto Fundación Cajasol during the 2024/2025 academic year. This group comprises Marta Chelet (flute), Alba Lázaro (oboe), Cristian Rupa (clarinet), Candela Pérez (bassoon), and Álvaro Parrón (horn)—young talents representing the future of chamber music.

Additionally, the agreement includes the co-production of a series of three concerts in Seville, hosted at Fundación Cajasol’s headquarters and performed by students of the School. This series will feature three key dates:

• Wednesday, January 22, 2025: Cello and piano recital by the Dúo Florence May (Eva Arderíus, cello; Natalia Schamova, piano).
• Friday, March 21, 2025: Chamber music trio performance.
• Wednesday, May 21, 2025: Quinteto Fundación Cajasol performance.

As part of this collaboration, Antonio Pulido, President of Fundación Cajasol, will join the Board of Trustees of the Reina Sofía School of Music, the School’s highest governing body.

A Shared Commitment to Music and Inclusion

This agreement reinforces the shared values between both institutions, such as fostering talent, quality, and inclusion, as well as promoting the dissemination of music in society.

For the Reina Sofía School of Music, this collaboration aligns with its proactive strategy to create partnerships with prestigious and relevant organizations that support its mission. As Paloma O’Shea emphasized:

“The collaboration with Fundación Cajasol perfectly aligns with the dual mission the School has upheld since its inception: on the one hand, contributing to the development of our young musicians through the formation of a wind quintet, and on the other, bringing music closer to society through the concert series that our students will perform at Fundación Cajasol’s headquarters in Seville.”

Antonio Pulido, President of Fundación Cajasol, added:

“This collaboration with the Reina Sofía School of Music reflects Fundación Cajasol’s firm commitment to promoting cultural expressions both within and beyond Andalusia. Through the professional training of young musicians and by bringing music closer to society, we aim to make culture accessible to all.”

• Ensemble Connect is a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Education, designed to prepare young classical music professionals for careers that blend musical excellence with teaching, community engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. As part of this year’s programming, Ensemble Connect will hold a residency at the Reina Sofía School of Music, where they will share experiences with the School’s students.
• From November 1 to 8, Ensemble Connect and the students will participate in a concert at the Reina Sofía Museum, as part of the programming by the National Centre for Music Dissemination (Monday 4); in social and community activities (Wednesday 6); and in artistic workshops and a colloquium focused on building synergies among young musicians to enhance the skills that allow them to connect with audiences (Thursday 7).

Madrid, 30 October 2024 – The Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid, founded in 1991, is a world-renowned centre for training young classical musicians. Over its 30-year history, more than 950 musicians have passed through its classrooms, now holding prominent positions in orchestras, thriving in solo careers, and teaching at the world’s top music schools.

Additionally, as part of its activities and social commitment, the School will host the residency of Ensemble Connect during the first week of November. This program, created by Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute, in collaboration with the New York City Department of Education, prepares young classical music professionals for careers that combine musical excellence with teaching, community engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

The residency, scheduled from November 1 to 8, will include a series of joint activities between Ensemble Connect and the School’s students who are enrolled in the Artistic Development course:

• Monday, 4 November, 7:30 p.m. – Auditorium 400 of the Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. Inaugural concert of the Series 20/21 contemporary music cycle by the National Centre for Music Dissemination (CNDM), featuring a fascinating exploration of American contemporary music with composers such as Missy Mazzoli.
• Wednesday, 6 November – As part of their social mission, Ensemble Connect will offer interactive concerts designed to invite audiences to explore and discover a musical piece or concept through listening activities aimed at deepening and enriching the concert experience. In the morning, they will perform at the Casa San Cristóbal de Fundación Montemadrid for an intergenerational audience of seniors and secondary school students from nearby schools. In the afternoon, they will perform for young audiences aged 8 to 18 at DalaNota, a free and inclusive music-education program for vulnerable children and adolescents, as well as at SEK International School Ciudalcampo.
• Thursday, 7 November – Ensemble Connect will conduct artistic workshops in the morning on the iconic work In C by Terry Riley with students from the Reina Sofía School and the Royal Conservatory of Music of Atocha. The result of this collaboration will be showcased that evening in the School’s Auditorium (6:30 p.m.), followed by a colloquium with the young musicians titled "What Skills Can We Develop to Connect with Audiences?" This event is open to the entire musical community, both artistic and educational, aiming to create synergies and collectively address the challenges facing the sector.

The Ensemble Connect residency at the Reina Sofía School of Music is made possible thanks to the support of Edmond de Rothschild Foundations.