Spanish Young Music Talents: Maria Florea in Washington, D.C.

Spanish violinist Maria Florea performs at the Spanish Cultural Center as part of the “Spanish Young Music Talents” program.

Spanish Young Music Talents (SYMT) is the flagship music program of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C., launched in 2022. Created to support and elevate the careers of emerging Spanish musicians, SYMT fosters artistic exchange and professional growth through collaborations with leading U.S. music schools, universities, and festivals.

More than just a performance opportunity, SYMT offers a comprehensive international experience. Participating musicians take part in a dynamic array of complementary activities —including masterclasses, lectures, workshops, and networking events— designed to expand their artistic vision and build meaningful professional connections.

All featured artists are under the age of 33 and winners of the prestigious national award from Juventudes Musicales de España, a distinction that recognizes outstanding young musical talent.

As part of her participation in the Spanish Young Music Talents program, Maria Florea will perform works from a varied period of classical music in an exclusive performance at the Spanish Cultural Center. Florea will also visit the Kreeger Museum in Washington, D.C. and participate in the Festival Casals de Puerto Rico.

Program

• George Enescu: Ménétrier
• Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita for violin solo No.2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Chaconne)
• Fritz Kreisler: Recitativo and Scherzo
• Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata for violin solo No.2 Obsession (Prelude: Obsession, Malinconia, Sarabande: Danse des Ombres, Les Furies)

Maria Florea

Born into a family of musicians and actresses, Maria Florea began studying the violin at the age of four with her father.

She has studied at some of Europe’s most prestigious schools, receiving guidance from Gonçal Comellas in Figueres, Zakhar Bron at the Reina Sofía School in Madrid, György Pauk at the Royal Academy in London, and Rainer Schmidt at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Musik-Akademie in Basel.

As a soloist, she has performed in iconic venues across Europe and China. Some of her concert highlights include appearances with the OBC at the opening concert of the 2020/2021 season at the Auditori in Barcelona and in summer of 2024 at Torroella de Montgrí Festival, at Teatro Monumental in Madrid with RTVE, with GIO Symphonia, with Camerata Penedès, at the Enescu Festival in Bucharest with Moldavian Chamber Orchestra, at Palau de la Música Catalana with the OSV, and with ADDA Simfònica in Alicante.

Recently, she has performed at the Schubertíada of Vilabertran, Philharmonic Society of Oviedo, Juan March Foundation in Madrid, Barcelona Obertura Festival, and PAAX Festival in Mexico.

She regularly collaborates with OBC, OSV, Franz Schubert Filharmonia, Vigo 430, GIO Symphonia, Orquestra Da Camera, as well as Esbjerg Ensemble (Denmark) Mal Pelo dance company, and Ensemble Bayona, with whom she recently recorded the CD Cuando el fuego abrasa.

Florea is a founding member of Trio da Vinci, winners of the 14th BBVA Montserrat Alavedra Chamber Music competition in Terrassa (Barcelona), with whom she performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto this season with the OSSC, and will make their debut at the Schubertíada de Valdegovía in the Basque Country.

She is also co-founder of The Rest Project, an original initiative that seeks to break with the conventional concert format, where performers not only play music but also explore movement and spoken word. Florea plays a violin by Eduard Sitjas Bonet, made in Girona in 2024.