I started playing the flute when I was 6 years old in the city of Gijón in the north of Spain. I do not come from a family of musicians, but my parents always loved classical music - we listened to it every weekend at home, and they wanted their kids to play an instrument. My older sister started playing the violin a few years before me and normally I always imitated her in everything she did, and this was no exception. While many of my classmates eventually gave up their instruments throughout the years, I never even questioned it. I had a lot of fun playing the flute and it looked like it was something I was good at. I liked that you never felt like you reached the end, and you could always keep getting better and better at it. It wasn’t until I played with a wind band in my conservatoire that I experienced what it was like to play with other people. I remember what I felt being sat in the middle of such a huge and powerful sound and I became fascinated by it.
I started playing the flute when I was 6 years old in the city of Gijón in the north of Spain. I do not come from a family of musicians, but my parents always loved classical music - we listened to it every weekend at home, and they wanted their kids to play an instrument. My older sister started playing the violin a few years before me and normally I always imitated her in everything she did, and this was no exception. While many of my classmates eventually gave up their instruments throughout the years, I never even questioned it. I had a lot of fun playing the flute and it looked like it was something I was good at. I liked that you never felt like you reached the end, and you could always keep getting better and better at it. It wasn’t until I played with a wind band in my conservatoire that I experienced what it was like to play with other people. I remember what I felt being sat in the middle of such a huge and powerful sound and I became fascinated by it.
Years went by and my aim was so study music in London. My flute teacher in Valencia always told me about the fantastic conservatories in the city and that became my aim. My sister actually moved to London and, as usual, I followed her! I got into a conservatoire and moved here. It was scary and daunting to leave my country and my family, and go to a new country with a different language which I didn’t speak and a different culture, but it was the best decision I have ever made.
Music has become the center of my life; it is not only my profession and passion, but it has led me to meeting some fantastic people and travelled to wonderful places. I am so lucky to feel fulfilled in my profession. Every day is a thrill and a joy, and, despite the difficulties of this job, I wouldn’t change it for anything.
When I’m not practicing or working, I enjoy going for hikes, cooking and travelling. I come from an international family, so I love travelling, especially to South and Central America, to experience a different way of living and going back to my roots.
EDUCATION
Royal College of Music
London, UK
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
London, UK
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
What is your favourite piece of music and why do you love it?
It’s really hard to only pick one as there are so many incredible pieces of music in our repertoire. I listen to different things depending on my mood. I probably listen to violin and piano concertos the most (funny how they are not my instruments) but I always come back to Shostakovich 5th Symphony, it’s full depth and contrasting feelings: angry, triumphant, tortured, heartbroken…
What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?
I love going to hot yoga classes, taking care of my urban veggie patch in my patio and going on big walks around the city that normally end with a big meal.
