The Seville City Council is set to host the final phase of the first Joaquín Turina Chamber Music and Soloist Competition on 23 and 24 October. This initiative aims to enhance the professional development of young performers while promoting the study, interpretation, and dissemination of the works of the renowned Sevillian composer Joaquín Turina.
The auditions will occur at the Espacio Turina and the church of the Hospital de los Venerables, with support from Juventudes Musicales de Sevilla and the Cathedral Chapter of Seville. Six finalists were chosen from 27 candidates who applied for this inaugural competition, which is open to musicians under 31 years of age, including both soloists and chamber ensembles of up to seven members, regardless of nationality or residency.
Following a preliminary non-public selection phase, the jury has selected the six finalists who will perform their programmes before an audience, competing for the competition's prizes. Angie Moreno, the city’s delegate for Tourism and Culture, stated, “With this competition, we take another step in the Seville City Council's support for music and young performers, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their work and advance their professional careers. At the same time, we help keep alive the legacy of Joaquín Turina, an essential figure in our musical heritage.”
Moreno further emphasised that “Seville must continue to be a meeting place for musical talent, where interpretation, training, and the recovery of our repertoire coexist. This competition was born with that vocation and the purpose of continuing to recognise one of the most important composers in our history.”
Finalists to perform in three audition sessions
The final phase will commence on Friday, 23 October, at 20:00 at the Espacio Turina, featuring three musical proposals. The session will open with the Ipse Trio, consisting of Alejandro Ruiz (violin), Rafael Gutiérrez (cello), and Pablo Camargo (piano), students from the Manuel Castillo Higher Conservatory of Music, performing works by Shostakovich and Joaquín Turina. Following them will be pianist Tomás Vidal, who will present a programme featuring compositions by Turina, Prokófiev, and Liszt. The evening will conclude with a performance by the duo of Enric Moya (violin) and Duarte Soares (piano), playing pieces by Turina and Brahms.
The programme will continue on Saturday, 24 October, at 18:00 at the Hospital de los Venerables, with a performance by Sevillian organist and harpsichordist Guido García, a student at the Conservatoire in Paris, who will interpret works by Brahms, Bach, Liszt, and Turina. The final session of the day will take place at 20:00 at the Espacio Turina, featuring the Rucca Quartet, composed of Zuriñe Corcobado, Aitor Prada, Maria Sala, and Olga Gallego, who will perform pieces by Ravel and Turina. The auditions will conclude with the Ebenum Duo, featuring violinist Arabela de Miguel, a member of the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville, and pianist Claudia Fernández, who will present a repertoire including works by Joaquín Turina, Antonio J. Flores, and Claude Debussy.
Jury and prizes
The jury will be chaired by composer José Luis Turina, a National Music Prize winner, member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, and grandson of Joaquín Turina. He will be joined by pianist Benedicte Palko, a chamber music specialist and founder of the Joaquín Turina International Chamber Music Festival; pianist Arnold W. Collado, president of Juventudes Musicales de Sevilla; and flautist and cultural manager Rafael Ruibérriz de Torres, coordinator of the Turina Route.
The competition offers a total prize fund of €15,000, distributed among six awards and a special distinction for the best interpretation of a work by Joaquín Turina. The first prize is €6,000; the second, €3,000; the third, €2,000; the fourth, €1,000; the fifth, €800; and the sixth, €600. Additionally, a special prize of €1,600 will be awarded for the best interpretation of a work by Joaquín Turina. Juventudes Musicales de Sevilla will also grant an additional recognition for soloists or duos, allowing them to participate in a concert in their annual season. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, 24 October, at the Espacio Turina, following the last audition and the jury's deliberation.
Access to auditions and practical information
- Friday, 23 October — 20:00
Location: Espacio Turina.
Finalists: Ipse Trio, Tomás Vidal, and Enric Moya–Duarte Soares Duo.
Access: Free entry until full capacity, available at the box office of the Teatro Lope de Vega. - Saturday, 24 October — 18:00
Location: Church of the Hospital de los Venerables.
Finalist: Guido García.
Maximum capacity: 30 people.
Access: Free entry until full capacity, with prior registration. - Saturday, 24 October — 20:00
Location: Espacio Turina.
Finalists: Rucca Quartet and Ebenum Duo.
Access: Free entry until full capacity, available at the box office of the Teatro Lope de Vega.
The competition marks a significant step by the Seville City Council in supporting the training and promotion of new performers while contributing to the dissemination of Joaquín Turina's legacy (1882-1949), a pivotal figure in 20th-century Spanish music.
