The Maria Canals International Music Competition of Barcelona works to bring music closer to everyone, combining the promotion of young talent with a strong commitment to inclusion and accessibility. With more than seventy years of experience, it offers support to emerging pianists and promotes piano practice as a cultural and educational tool accessible to people of all ages.
The association of the Maria Canals International Music Competition is a non-profit organisation that has been declared of public interest. Its main purpose is to help young and aspiring professional music performers from all over the world through the annual celebration of the Maria Canals International Music Competition of Barcelona. The association also organizes the OFF Competition, the educational, informative and social program that encourages the practice of the piano among the population as a whole.
The environment surrounding the Maria Canals International Music Competition is an ecosystem involving various groups committed to promoting culture and supporting young musical talent. The Board of Directors, chaired by Ms. Mariona Carulla i Font, is the governing body that leads the association. The board of trustees, made up of individuals and entities making annual donations, reflects civil society’s commitment to the competition by providing essential financial support. Additionally, families who lend their pianos and volunteers who assist in various activities are key elements for the project’s success, ensuring a welcoming and operational environment for the participants.
The Board of Directors, chaired by Ms. Mariona Carulla i Font and made up of 21 members, it is the highest governing body of the association:
Ms. Mariona Carulla i Font, President
Ms. Victòria Quintana i Trias, Vice-president
Mr. Ildefonso Sánchez Prat, Secretary
Mr. Antonio Delgado Infante, Treasurer
Ms. Montse Brunet and Agustí, member
Mr. Josep Maria Busquets i Galera, member
Mr. Salvador Brotons and Soler, member
Mr. Marc Busquets and Oliu, member
Mr. Carlos Cebro, member
Ms. Laura Cendrós and Jorba, member
Mr. Josep Cuscó i Garcia, member
Ms. Pilar Figueras i Bellot, member
Ms. Elvira Gaspar i Farreras, member
Mr. Alejandro Jiménez Marconi, member
Ms. Cecília Julià de Capmany, member
Ms. Ivana Klimek, member
Ms. Elisabeth Martínez i Guarro, member
Mr. Pere Quintana i Colomer, member
Mr. Joan-Artur Roura i Comas, member
Ms. Montse Roig and Losantos, member
Ms. Anna Sagarra and Trias, member
Mr. Jordi Vivancos and Farràs, member
Tax benefits:
The association of the Maria Canals International Music Competition is an entity declared of Public Utility by the Ministry of the Interior. In addition, thanks to the new Sponsorship Law of Catalonia, any financial contribution to the association offers expanded tax benefits for both individuals and legal entities, within the framework of Article 24 of Law 49/2002 and the applicable Catalan regulations.
Our Board of Trustees:
For these young pianists to continue preparing during the rounds, the Competition counts on a very large and vocational group of families who offer their piano at home so that contestants can rehearse during their stay in Barcelona. The relationship with the families is key for the contestants who, in moments of great stress, create a closer connection and are treated warmly by the volunteers who welcome them into their homes and make them feel comfortable.
The association’s projects have received support from numerous volunteers from the very beginning, assisting in various tasks related to attending to the contestants and jurors, providing administrative support, and offering translations in other languages. As part of the OFF Competition, the association also relies on volunteers who animate the street pianos, visit prisons, and regularly perform at hospitals.
For the competition, the involvement and commitment of all prize donors is essential, as it is thanks to them that the true vocation of fostering the careers of young talents from all over the world can be showcased, talents who stand out for their artistic excellence, perseverance, and constant effort.
The First Prize, awarded by the Fundación Occident, consists of 25,000 euros and includes five concerts in Spain with some of the country’s most prestigious orchestras, as well as a gold medal offered by Bagués-Masriera Joiers. The Second Prize is awarded by Maria Font de Carulla and is endowed with 10,000 euros, along with a medal offered by Capdevila, Joiers i Argenters. Finally, the Third Prize is awarded by the Fundació Vila Casas and is endowed with 6,000 euros.
You will find all the information about the prizes in the Competition page.
Maria Canals i Cendrós (1914-2010) was a visionary woman who, driven by her passion for the piano, her vocation to help and teach young performers, and her love for the city of Barcelona, developed an intense activity, first as a concert performer, and then as a promoter of such important projects as the Ars Nova Music Academy in Barcelona and the prestigious Maria Canals International Music Competition in Barcelona.
The current competition not only bears its name but also upholds its artistic and interpretative principles, based on the rigor and professional development of young pianists. However, its commitment to serving society also inspires the strategic direction of the OFF Competition.
Maria Canals i Cendrós (Barcelona 1914-2010) studied with Joaquim Canals, Lluís Millet, and Ricard Viñes. By the age of 15, she started her international career playing with the major orchestras and conductors of her time. Her broad repertoire included world premieres of best-known early 20th century Catalan composers and displayed her preference for French music.
In 1950, she founded the prestigious Acadèmia Ars Nova together with her husband, and in 1954 the Maria Canals Barcelona International Music Competition. Maria Canals served as a jury member in some of the most important international competitions.
In 1965, she received the Stella della Solidarità Italiana and in 1981 she was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts des Lettres. In 1990, she was awarded the Creu de Sant Jordi by the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Medalla al Mérito en Bellas Artes by the Ministry of Culture. In 1994, she received the Medalla d’Or al Mèrit Artístic by the Barcelona City Council.
Maria Canals published the following works: Una vida dins la música (Editorial Selecta), Quaranta anys de vida del concurs d’execució musical, alguns records (Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat) and Beethoven, la vida i l’obra (Biblioteca Selecta).
In 2014, on the hundredth anniversary of her birth, the Maria Canals Association and the Barcelona City Council published Maria Canals i Barcelona, the book.It is an informative and easy read with a lot of graphic material, published to make the life and work of this prestigious performer and teacher known to all audiences in a visual and understandable way.
Data sheet
Author: Ana Maria Dávila
Languages of publication: Catalan and English
Price: 9€
Year of publication: 2015
Pages: 174
Format: 16,5 x 24 cm
ISBN: 978-84-9850-644-0
The book can be found in regular bookstores. If you prefer, contact us and we will send it to you by post: info@mariacanals.org
The CEDOC of the Fundació Orfeó Català — Palau de la Música Catalana contains the Maria Canals (1914 – 2010) and Rossend Llates (1899-1973) Collection, which includes personal documents from both, as well as from pianist and music teacher Joaquim Canals i Matavacas (1859-1938), who was also Maria Canals’ father; Alfredine Baró i Cayol (1849-1909), Joaquim Canals’ first wife; Alfred Canals i Baró (1884-1955), Maria Canals’ half-brother; and Agnès Cendrós i Salvadó (1885-1968), Maria Canals’ mother.
In terms of professional activity, we find documents that reflect Maria Canals’ concert life and her experience as a teacher at the Acadèmia Ars Nova, in addition to the foundation and organization of the International Music Competition. We can also find autobiographical writings, reflections on music and correspondence with important personalities from the music world, such as Manel Blancafort, Lluís Millet i Pagès, Lluís M. Millet i Millet, Frederic Mompou, Georges Auric and Francis Poulenc, among many others. It also includes a very important collection of hand programs, newspaper clippings and posters, as well as a small number of scores. We should also mention the holographic manuscripts by Manuel Blancafort, Ricard Viñes, Xavier Montsalvatge, and a work by Isaac Albéniz. The photos illustrating the pianist’s personal and professional life are also worthwhile.
Team
Jordi Vivancos
Director
Carlos Cebro
Artistic director
Marta Gasch
Secretariat and projects
Jeroni Oliva
Production
Izumi Forasté
Communication
Montse Roig
Public relations
Monte Brunet
Secretary of the jury
Gloria Bartomeus
Pianos / Tu hi toques!
Oliver Adell
Photographer
Ana Maria Dávila
Press
Ferran Rafa
Protocol Officer
Cisco Cruz
Presenter
Javier Alcázar
Social project teacher
Alan Cueto
Social project teacher
Sarai Jiménez
Social project teacher
Nana Tsaava
Social project teacher
Camila Prieto
Social project teacher