Spanish Young Music Talents: Irene Mata in Washington, DC

Spanish flutist Irene Mata Tejero performs at the Spanish Cultural Center 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 33 years old.

As part of her participation in the Spanish Young Music Talents program, Irene Mata will perform works from a varied period of classical music in an exclusive performance at the Spanish Cultural Center. She will perform alongside pianist Ga Young Lee. She will also debut with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra on May 18th.

Program

• Jean Marie Leclair (1697–1764): Flute Sonata in G Major, Op.9, No.7 (I. Dolce: Andante. IV. Giga: Allegro Moderato).
• François Devienne (1759–1803): Flute Concerto No.2n in D Major (I. Allegro).
• César Franck (1822–1890): Flute Sonata in A Major, FWV 8 (IV. Allegretto poco mosso).
• Louis Ganne (1862–1923): Andante et Scherzo for Flute and Piano.
• Otar Taktakishvili (1924–1989): Sonata for Flute and Piano in C Major (II. Aria).
• Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992): Historia del Tango (III. Night-Club, 1960).
• Manuel De Falla (1876–1946): Serenata andaluza (premiere, arranged by Javier Mata Tejero).

Irene Mata Tejero

Spanish flutist Irene Mata Tejero completed her professional studies at the CPM Ramón Garay in Jaén, with teachers Pedro Girba and Marina Lemberg, and graduated with honors in 2024 at the Royal Conservatory of Music Victoria Eugenia in Granada. During her studies she received the Extraordinary End of Degree Award under the direction of Francisco Javier Castiblanque. In September 2025 she will be starting a Flute Master at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels. She has played under the baton of prestigious conductors such as Alondra de La Parra, Manuel Coves and Lucía Marín.

She has won several national and international competitions, among them the First Prize in the 2023 Musical Youth Competition of Spain and the First Prize in the Baezafest Young Performers Contest.

Irene Mata Tejero is also part of the Yamaha Youth program. As a flutist with the Youth Orchestra of the Community of Madrid, she has performed on large stages such as the Auditorio Nacional de Madrid, as well as in festivals and chamber music groups throughout Spain.