The Fundació de les Arts de Lleida has launched the second edition of the Ricard Viñes Scholarship for Advanced Music Studies Abroad. This initiative, named after the renowned Lleida-born pianist, aims to boost the international careers of young musicians from the region.
This year's scholarship provides €6,000. Applications can be submitted from 1 May until 15 June 2026. The scholarship covers a full academic year of advanced instrumental or vocal performance studies at internationally recognised music centres. The funding can help with tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses, travel, and medical insurance.
Andrea Budau, a young oboist from Lleida, was the recipient of the first edition of the scholarship. She is currently studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Professor Aisling Casey, having previously completed her elementary and professional degrees at the Municipal Conservatory of Lleida with extraordinary awards.
Eligibility and Auditions
Young musicians under 28 years old at the time of application are eligible. Candidates must have been born or be registered residents in Lleida or a municipality within its province. They must also be admitted, or in the process of selection, to a foreign higher music education institution. Applicants need to show a minimum language level equivalent to B1 and submit a musical CV, academic transcript, and a motivational letter outlining their study plans.
Pre-selected candidates will be invited to a 30-minute in-person audition at the Auditori Municipal Enric Granados in Lleida. This is scheduled for 13 July 2026. During the audition, candidates will perform a programme of various styles before an evaluation committee made up of music professionals.
The Evaluation Committee
The jury for this edition includes Vladislav Bronevetzky, piano professor at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya; Laia Puig, cello professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Aragón and the Professional Conservatory of Cervera; and Laia Magrí, bassoon professor at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya and the Conservatory of Lleida. Màrius Bernadó, a professor at the University of Lleida and commissioner for the Any Ricard Viñes, will participate as secretary with voice but no vote.
The decision will be announced within one month of the audition date. In addition to their studies, the scholarship recipient will be invited to give a paid concert at the Auditori Enric Granados in Lleida within two years of receiving the award.
Ricard Viñes: A Legacy for Future Musicians
Born in Lleida and based in Paris from the late 19th century, Ricard Viñes became one of the most important pianists of his era. He was a key figure in promoting contemporary European music. The scholarship bearing his name aims to promote local talent with a global outlook, connecting the legacy of a universal musician with new generations of Lleida creators.
This scholarship is part of the 'Any Viñes' (Viñes Year) commemoration. This event, organised by the Generalitat de Catalunya and Lleida City Council, marks the 150th anniversary of Ricard Viñes i Roda's birth (Lleida, 5 February 1875 – Barcelona, 29 April 1943). The commemoration promotes research, dissemination, and preservation of his legacy, aiming to establish the 'Viñes brand' as a cultural reference for the Lleida region beyond the anniversary year.
Viñes studied with Joan Baptista Pujol and, at twelve, won first prize for piano at the Escola Municipal de Música de Barcelona. He received a scholarship to further his studies at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he attended classes with Godard, Lavignac, and Bériot. He performed as a concert pianist and soloist with the Concerts Lamoureux and Concerts Colonne, achieving great success in many European and American countries. He was a leading interpreter of Debussy, E. Satie, Ravel, and D. de Severac, as well as I. Albéniz, E. Granados, M. de Falla, and M. Blancafort. Many of these composers, including E. Halffter, F. Mompou, and J. Rodrigo, dedicated works to him.
Viñes also composed several piano pieces, such as 'Menuet spectral' (in memory of Ravel), 'Crinoline', 'Thrénodie: hommage à la mémoire d’Erik Satie', and 'Marche funèbre', along with vocal works. He published articles in magazines like Música, Revista Musical de Madrid, and Revista Musical Catalana, and wrote poetry in Spanish, Catalan, and French.
