Gabriel Urgell Reyes

Born in Havana in 1976, Gabriel Urgell Reyes began his musical studies at the age of 7 with the professors Viera ULASHKIEVICH and Vilma GARRIGA in the Elementary school of Music “Alejandro Garcia Caturla” in Havana. In 1992 he continues in the “Amadeo Roldán Conservatory” as a pupil of the pianist Teresita JUNCO, with whom he will finish also the Superior Arts Institute of Cuba. He has won several national and international prizes such as the Grand Prix of the “National Amadeo Roldán Piano Competition” 1991 and 1993, La Havana, Cuba.

Fourth Prize of the X International Young Pianists Competition “Città di Marsala” 1994, Italy. First Prize of the “National Frederic Chopin Piano Competition”, La Havana 1997 and First Prize of the “UNEAC Piano Competition”, La Havana 1999.

In 2000 he won the Second Prize and the Prize for the Best Performance of Cuban Music of the First International Ignacio Cervantes Piano Competition. In 2003, he wins the Second Prize and the Audience Prize of the “International Frechilla-Zuloaga Piano Competition” Valladolid, Spain. Since 2002 he has become Official Soloist of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Havana.

He has performed under the conducting of Leo BROWER, Guido LOPEZ-GAVILAN, Ivan DEL PRADO, Helena HERRERA, Rafael MONTES and Alejandro POSADA. He has also performed several recitals in Cuba, Chile, Spain, France and Germany.

In September 2004 Gabriel Urgell Reyes is admitted by the unanimous vote of the Jury in the “Cycle de Perfectionnement” of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Paris as a pupil of the pianist Hervé BILLAUT. Due to this admission the Prize of the Alfred Reinhold Foundation 2004 was awarded to him.