Detail of a photograph of Juan Luis Madrigal
by Michal Novak
Detail of a photograph of Juan Luis Madrigal
by Michal Novak
Biography
Born in Madrid, Spain, on 26th December 1982. His childhood takes place in the city of Alcalá de Henares. He begins his musical training at the age of seven at the Jeunesses Musicales (Juventudes Musicales) Music School/Academy of the Cervantes' city, completing his elementary music studies as a pianist there, while, in parallel, attending the Colegio Calasanz School in the same municipality.
Afterwards, he enters the Professional Conservatory of Music of Alcalá de Henares, taking piano lessons firstly with Hortensia González Carrera and secondly with Roxana Prieto, an Argentine teacher. He obtains the Professional Title of Music with a specialisation in Piano in 2003 with outstanding results, having particularly excelled in the subject of Fundamentals of Composition, taught by Manuel Sánchez.
In 2008 he receives the Title of Telecommunications Engineer at the University of Alcalá (Universidad de Alcalá), being awarded the Extraordinary End of Degree Award for his outstanding academic achievements. Then he works in a Madrid engineering consulting company until March 2016, taking on positions of increasing responsibility in the field of software development, including those of project manager and head of department.
From 2013 onwards, he pursues his Music Degree with a specialisation in Composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid (Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid), and combines his work as an engineer with his musical education. In the spring of 2014, as a first-year composition student, two of his first works were premiered in concert: a wind quintet and a piano sonatine, the recordings of which are currently available to the public on this website, as well as a selection of later compositions and piano performances. He has obtained excellent results in multiple subjects, finishing his Music Degree with a specialisation in Composition in 2018, obtaining the Honorary End-of-Degree Award in Composition of that year from the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, awarded to the best academic record.
In July 2017 and July 2018, he attends, respectively, the 8th and 9th International Postgraduate Courses in Musical Composition, held at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Universitat Politècnica de València, UPV), both taught in Valencia (Spain) by the acclaimed composer Leonardo Balada, Professor Emeritus of Carnegie Mellon University (located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA).
In November 2017 he is awarded one of the "Grants for the Creation and Development of Performing, Musical and Cinematographic Arts 2017" (Ayudas a la Creación y Desarrollo de las Artes Escénicas, Musicales y Cinematográficas) of the Comunidad de Madrid in the category of Musical Composition for his project and work "Music of the Elements" for orchestra, which is divided into four movements, dedicated respectively to Air, Water, Earth and Fire.
In October 2018, he starts teaching at the Mater Salvatoris Authorized Center for Professional Music Education in Madrid, as teacher of Musical Analysis, Harmony and Musical Language, and head of department throughout the 2018-2019 academic year. In September 2019, he joins the faculty of the Madrid Higher School of Singing (Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid) as an interim professor of Composition specialty in Musical Analysis, Harmony and Aural Education subjects during 2019-2020 academic year, combining his professional teaching activity with his Master's Degree in Musical Research at the International University of La Rioja (Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, UNIR), which he completes with excellent results in 2021.
In November 2023, he joined the Composition department of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid (Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid) to teach the subjects of Counterpoint and Harmony and Counterpoint of the 20th and 21st centuries as interim professor of Composition.
In June 2021, after assessing his excellent academic record and his numerous curricular merits, his recently requested membership of the Spanish Society of Academic Excellence (SEDEA) is accepted, being recognized, therefore, as one of the best students in his country.
He has attended classes with the renowned professors and music professionals, amongst others: Alicia Díaz de la Fuente, Enrique Igoa, Manuel Seco de Arpe, Alfonso Romero Asenjo, Leonardo Balada, Zulema de la Cruz, Enrique Rueda, Manuel Martínez Burgos, Juan Medina, Eduardo Armenteros, Alejandro Román, Ángel Huidobro, Lourdes García Melero, Javier García, Álvaro Guijarro, Luis Robledo, Eva Esteve, Daniel Moro, Rafael Martín Castilla, Manuel Tizón, Víctor Padilla, Edith Alonso and Brian Martínez Rodríguez.
Detail of a photograph of Juan Luis Madrigal by Michal Novak
MILESTONES - LAST YEARS
November, 2023
He joins the Composition department of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid to teach a two-month period Counterpoint and Harmony and Counterpoint of the 20th century.
October, 2023
The pianist Laura Ballestrino premieres his work In the Garden of Eden at the COMA'23 festival.
November, 2022
His suite for guitar in three movements Essence of the East (premiered at the COMA'22 festival).
May, 2022
His work The dance of the princesses is awarded by the SGAE Foundation with an Incentive for Creation among the musical premieres of 2021.
December, 2021
The premiere recording of The dance of the princesses performed by the Orquestra de Cambra Catalana conducted by Joan Pàmies is published.
November, 2021
He completes his Master's Degree in Musical Research at the International University of La Rioja (UNIR) with an average mark of 9.21 out of 10.
October, 2021
The recording of his piece In memoriam Iohannis Sebastianis Bachis is published.
August, 2021
This website has been fully translated into English.
June, 2021
Member of the Spanish Society of Academic Excellence (SEDEA).
May, 2021
He publishes his prelude for piano Nymphéas (Water Lilies).
April, 2021
He publishes his Song to the victims for children's choir.
March, 2021
Complete renovation of this website.
February, 2021
He publishes the recording of his work Dreaming of Wonderland for ensemble (COMA'19 festival).
June, 2020
He publishes his song for soprano and piano White Moon, premiered at the COMA'18 festival.
September, 2019
He continues his teaching activity at the Escuela Superior de Canto de Madrid in 2019-2020.
October, 2018
He begins his teaching activity.
September, 2018
Honorary End-of-Degree Award in Composition 2018 from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid.
Spring, 2018
He publishes the recording of the premiere of the musical piece Irisation (in June 2018) and the recordings of the premieres (in March 2018) of his symphonic works Searching Shambhala and Earth and Fire.
November, 2017
He is awarded one of the Grants for the Creation and Development of the Performing, Musical and Cinematographic Arts 2017 of the Comunidad de Madrid in musical composition for his project and work Music of the Elements for orchestra.