Spanish Young Music Talents: David Martín in Puerto Rico

Spanish cellist David Martín performs in various Puerto Rico venues as part of the “Spanish Young Music Talents” program.

Spanish Young Music Talents (SYMT) is the new program of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C. SYMT has been envisioned to enhance and support Spanish young musicians’ careers, in collaboration with U.S. music schools and universities at a higher level (bachelor and graduate students orchestras), offering them an experience abroad.

SYMT aims to offer young musicians not only a concert or recital in the U.S., but a complete experience with complementary activities such as masterclasses, talks, conferences, etc. to broaden their opportunities and contacts. All visiting musicians are winners of the Juventudes Musicales de España national award and under 30 years old.

During his stay in Puerto Rico, David Martín will participate in the Casals Festival, performing several concerts in multiple cities, including three recitals, one in Magayagüez, another one in Ponce and a third one in San Germán. He will also give a masterclass at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and conduct other educational activities in other cities of the island.

Activities in Puerto Rico

Cello solo recital

• On Saturday, May 25. Time to be confirmed.
• At Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria Cathedral, 55 Calle Iglesia, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico.

Cello solo recital

• On Sunday, May 26. Time to be confirmed.
• At Monseñor Vicente Murga Theater, Pontificia Universidad Católica of Puerto Rico, 292M+QR6, Ponce, 00730, Puerto Rico.

Masterclass

• On Tuesday, May 28. Time to be confirmed.
• At Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, 951 PR-25, San Juan, 00907, Puerto Rico.

Masterclass

• On Thursday, May 30. Time to be confirmed.
• At San Germán. Exact location to be announced.

Cello solo recital

• On Friday, May 31. Time to be confirmed.
• At Teatro Sol Luz Celenia Tirado, 3XJ4+XR6, C. Padres Agustinos, San Germán, 00683, Puerto Rico

David Martín

David Martín, born in León, Spain in 1995, entered the Higher School of Music Reina Sofía as a cellist in the 2013-14 academic year under Professor Natalia Shakhovskaya. He was awarded the Most Outstanding Student in his department by HM Queen Sofía. Currently, he is completing his postgraduate studies at the Berlin University of the Arts under Professor Jens Peter Maintz. He has also received instruction from renowned artists such as Steven Isserlis, Gary Hoffman, Truls Mork, Philippe Müller, Frans Helmerson, Gautier Capuçon, Natalia Gutman, Ferenc Rados, Andras Schiff, and the Hagen.

In 2018 he was awarded First Prize in the Spanish Young Music Talents competition, allowing him to debut with the RTVE Orchestra with the concert for cello by A. Dvorak, which has helped him establish himself in the Spanish musical scene. He also won the First Prize in the Pedro Bote International Contest of Badajoz, in the Villa de Llanes International Competition of Asturias, and the International Prize Francesco Geminiani of Verona, which allows him to play an 1888 cello built by Francesco Guadagnini. More recently, he won the Third Prize in the International Competition Domenico Gabrielli in Berlin.

Martín has performed at festivals and concert series worldwide, including the AIE Classics on the Road series, the prestigious Masterclass of the Kronberg Academy, the AlppenKlassik Festival in Bad Reichenhal, the Meeting and Academy in Santander, the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival in Germany, the Villars Music Academy in Switzerland, and the Rutesheim Cello Festival. He performed Haydn’s Concerto in C major with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra.

David Martín combines his concert activity with teaching as a Cello Professor at the Higher Conservatory of Music of Castilla y León (COSCyL).