Meet Isabel Dobarro, one of Spain’s most internationally promising pianists

Meet Isabel Dobarro, one of Spain’s most internationally promising pianists

“Isabel Dobarro combines impeccable technique with a great interpretative sense.”  
– Tomás Marco (Scherzo, 2022)

Dr. Isabel Dobarro is considered one of Spain’s most internationally promising pianists. Named “Woman to Follow in Culture 2021,” she is a professor at the Katarina Gurska Higher Center, President of the European Music Center in Spain, and a visiting professor at the London Performing Academy of Music (UK). Isabel has developed her career in the United States, Spain, Germany, Russia, Belgium, France, Argentina, Italy, and Portugal. Her upcoming solo recording debut will be with the prestigious Naxos label.

She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the DiMenna Center, Steinway Hall, Tenri Cultural Institute, Septodont Auditorium, Carson Auditorium, Provincetown Playhouse, Frederick Loewe Theater, Blackbox Theater, Borden Auditorium, and Greenfield Hall, among others, in the U.S.; the Ibero-Amerikanische Institut in Berlin; Mendelssohn House in Leipzig; Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow; Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires; Casina Pio IV in Vatican City; Monastero delle Trentaré in Naples; Sala Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli in Bolzano; Balassi Center in Brussels; Villa Viardot in Bougival (Paris); and various notable venues in Spain, including the National Auditorium, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Palau de la Música Catalana, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Teatros del Canal, Reales Alcázares in Seville, Fundación Juan March, Teatro Jovellanos, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and others.

Isabel has won numerous awards in international competitions, such as second place in the American Protegé International Piano Competition, third place in the Grand Prize International Virtuoso Competition, and first prizes in the Cidade do Fundão International Competition in Portugal and Ciutat de Berga. She has also received career accolades, including the Young Peacemaker Award at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, the Executivas de Galicia Award 2022, and the Golden Pin Award 2022. She was a finalist for the Future Women in Classical Music Award in London.

Her work has been recognized by national and international media, including *El Mundo* (where she appeared on the cover), *El País*, *ABC*, *La Vanguardia*, *Vogue*, *Telva* (named one of the top 10 Spaniards of the 21st century), Spanish television stations (TVE, Telecinco, Antena 3), *Opera News* (USA), *Pianist Magazine* (UK), *Fanfare Magazine* (USA), and various European and Latin American publications.

For her work in recovering compositions by women, Isabel was invited to speak at the Women Now Conference alongside Queen Letizia of Spain and Kathleen Kennedy. In 2016, she founded the Women in Music Project with mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna, promoting music composed by women. A highlight of this work was her performance at Palau de la Música Catalana, where she played Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto op.7 and Clara Gil’s *Frágil*, accompanied by the OSSB orchestra under Claudia Dubé’s direction.

She premiered Louise Héritte-Viardot’s quartets in Spain and Marianna Martínez’s Piano Concerto in G Major, performing with the Málaga Camerata and Italy’s Orchestra San Giovanni.

Isabel has collaborated with the New York Philharmonic through their Very Young Composers Program. Additionally, she has played with the OSSB of Barcelona, OSCAN, Cruz Diez Orchestra, Real Filharmonía de Galicia, Braga Philharmonic Orchestra, OST, Málaga Camerata, and others, under conductors such as Michael Thomas, Manuel Jurado, Claudia Dubé, Diego Masson, Paula Sumillera, Filipe Cunha, Santiago Otero, Aona Green, and Beatriz Gutiérrez.

She has given masterclasses at institutions like New York University, the International Opera Festival in Morelia, and Veracruz’s Pianistic Improvement Festival. She has lectured at numerous renowned venues, including the Vatican’s Casina Pio IV (where she was received by Pope Francis), the UN General Assembly, the European Parliament, Harvard University, Columbia University, the King Juan Carlos I Center, and many more.

Her publications include an article on Joaquín Rodrigo’s reception in the United States for Harvard University-Observatorio Cervantes and another on Sustainable Development Goals and Music for IIASA in Vienna. She is preparing a book on Spanish women composers, scheduled for release next year.

She organized a tribute to the composer Pauline Viardot for her bicentennial, which included events at Harvard University, New York University, Teatro Jovellanos, Alcázar de Sevilla, Institut Français, and others, along with a CD, scholarly articles, and global conferences. Her album “The Unknown Pauline Viardot: Chamber Songs and Duets” has been acclaimed by critics, including *Opera News*, *Fanfare Magazine*, and *Operawire*, and won Spain’s Golden Melomano Award.

In 2016, she organized the Granados Festival at NYU, a series of conferences and concerts dedicated to Enrique Granados. Three years later, she organized the Rodrigo Festival: The Guitar and Beyond, involving Harvard University and New York University.

A champion of contemporary music, Isabel has premiered works by numerous composers, including Eduardo Soutullo, Juan Manuel Ruiz, Miguel Bustamante, and others. Her recording of Diana Pérez Custodio’s *Ostinato Rap 02* with mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna has been included in the London Music Nights Series CD.

She performs regularly with National Music Award winner and RTVE Orchestra concertmaster Miguel Borrego, guitarist José María Gallardo del Rey, and flautist Rubén Torres Melero.

Isabel holds a doctorate from New York University, where she began teaching at age 19 as an Adjunct Instructor. Her studies include a Professional Studies Degree from Manhattan School of Music, a Master’s from NYU, and a degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid. She also holds a Law degree from UNED, has studied law at NYU SPS, sustainability at SDG Academy, International Relations at Harvard University, and business at Harvard Business School HBX. She completed a leadership course at Cambridge University and a dual master’s in law and bilingual legal advisory at IE Law School.