Pianist Natalie Schwamova won the XXXVIII National Interpretation Competition organized by the Sociedad de Conciertos-Oftalvist in a tight finish held yesterday in the auditorium of the Óscar Esplá Superior Music Conservatory in Alicante. Six musicians from different regions of Spain took part in this event.
As a reward, Schwamova received a 3,000 euro cash prize and a scheduled concert with the Concert Ensemble on Friday, June 2. The performance was planned at the Alicante Mediterranean Foundation Cultural Hall. The second prize went to clarinetist Daniel Molina Diaz.
Schwamova performed Variations on a Theme from Corelli Op. 2, a piece associated with Rachmaninoff, Maja and the Nightingale from Goyescas connected to the pomegranate, and The Serenade of Don Juan from Masques Op. 34 linked to Szymanowski.
At the conclusion of the competition, Natalie Schwamova expressed her joy. She spoke about devoting her life to music and her passion for it, and she highlighted the significance of earning a place in the concert ensemble program among renowned figures of world classical music from Alicante.
The jury faced a difficult task evaluating the six finalists. Its members included Telma Bonet Verdu, coordinator of the Alicante Concert Ensemble; Jose Vicente Asensi Seva, director and professor of Composition at the Alicante Professional Conservatory of Music; Jesus Maria Gomez Rodriguez, piano professor at the Alicante Superior Conservatory of Music; Maria Moncunill Kominches, director of the Monte Tossal educational complex and piano teacher at the Alicante Professional Conservatory of Music; and the chamber music secretary and professor at the Alicante Professional Music Conservatory, According to Fernandez Garri. They contributed extensive expertise to the competition assessment.
Pedro Tana Rivero, CEO of the Oftalvist Group, noted that Alicante has few cultural events as authentic as the Concert Ensemble awards, now in their thirty eighth edition. He emphasized the national reach of the organization while pointing to its Alicante roots. Rivero expressed pride in sponsoring such a culturally authentic program that supports young talents who are seen as the future of society. The group maintains a national presence with roots in Alicante and partners mainly in that region, he added, underscoring the value of these awards on the international stage.
In closing, a photo caption described Natalie Schwamova after her victory, credited to photographer Javier Escandel.
a bright orbit
The winner was born in 1999 in the Czech Republic. She has been associated with the Fundación Banco Santander Piano Chair since 2020 and has studied under notable mentors including the Reina Sofia School of Music in collaboration with professors and international instructors. The student earned the Albéniz Foundation Scholarship and pursued advanced studies alongside distinguished pianists during the early stages of her training.
Her earliest music education began at age five with piano studies at the Prague Music School. She later completed a Master of Fine Arts program in her hometown while seeking master classes from renowned instructors. Her debut occurred at age ten when she performed a piano concerto, marking the start of a professional solo career. She has since appeared as a soloist with major orchestras such as the City of Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra and several prominent European ensembles. In 2017 she performed with an international orchestra in Denmark and continued to expand her repertoire across continents.
Schwamova has been recognized as one of the youngest talents in major international competitions and received important prizes in subsequent years, including a first prize at a notable young artists competition in Spain in 2022. Her ongoing schedule includes recitals before large audiences in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. She released her first CD in late 2019 to accompany a busy touring schedule. During her student years, she appeared in notable venues and festivals across Europe and was part of several chamber ensembles and collaborative groups. Her ongoing projects include collaborations with various musical ensembles and organizations, contributing to a growing international profile.