WINNERS’ GALA CONCERTS

“From recognition to the stage”

Winning a competition can be an important moment in a young musician’s journey. But at the Carles & Sofia Music Foundation, we believe that recognition only becomes truly meaningful when it leads to new experiences, new audiences and real opportunities to perform.

The Winners’ Gala Concerts are one of the first steps in that journey. Each year, selected winners of the Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition are invited to Catalonia for a series of concerts in Barcelona, Girona and Sant Martí Vell — three very different settings, from a major international city to the historic character of Girona and the intimacy of a small medieval village.

The concerts allow young artists to move beyond the competition setting and experience the reality of professional performance: preparing a recital, adapting to different venues and instruments, meeting new audiences and sharing their artistic voice in a variety of cultural contexts.

But the experience goes far beyond the stage. During their stay, the young musicians spend time together, discover the territory and have the opportunity to build relationships with other artists who share the same passion and aspirations. In Girona, they explore the city together and share a traditional breakfast with Carles & Sofia; in Barcelona, a visit to Jorquera Pianos, Steinway & Sons dealer, brings them closer to the instrument itself, its mechanics and the craftsmanship behind a concert grand.

These shared moments are an essential part of the project. They encourage friendship, curiosity and a sense of community, while allowing young musicians from different countries and cultures to learn from one another and create connections that may continue long after the concerts are over.

At the same time, the journey introduces them to the cultural and historical diversity of Catalonia — from metropolitan Barcelona to Girona and Sant Martí Vell — while bringing outstanding international talent closer to local audiences and communities.

The Winners’ Gala Concerts are not simply a series of performances. They are a first professional journey: an opportunity to perform, discover, connect and grow.