Biography

Born in Madrid on March 13, 1935, Alberto Ponce started playing the guitar at the age of 7. His father was his first teacher. He then entered the Municipal Conservatory of Music in Barcelona, where, in addition to guitar, he studied piano, harmony, counterpoint, chamber music and the history of music. He graduated from the conservatory with the highest distinction, the “Mencion de Honor”. Following an audition requested from Maestro Emilio PUJOL by their father, Alberto Ponce and his sister Sonia, received instruction from the Catalan Maestro. This meeting with Maestro Emilio PUJOL to whom he was deeply attached, marked and influenced Alberto Ponce’s entire artistic life. After graduating from Barcelona Conservatory Alberto Ponce followed Maestro Pujol for three years at the Lisbon Conservatory. He then continued for five years under the direction of his Master, perfecting the Vihuela and early music, especially from the Spanish Golden Age at the Chigiana Musical Academy in Siena. In 1961 he won first prize in the Mathilde Cuervas vihuela competition at the Chigiana Academy. In 1962 he won first prize at the Concours International de Paris, organized by Robert Vidal and the French Broadcasting Office (ORTF). He then met Alfred Cortot who gave him the guitar class at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris (ENMP). In 1961, he was invited by Nadia Boulanger to teach at the American Conservatory of Fontainebleau. He also taught at the conservatories of Argenteuil, Courneuve, Marly-le-Roi and became a professor at the National Conservatory of Paris. In parallel with his activity as a concert performer he was a renowned teacher and he trained generations of guitarists from all over the world in line with the teaching of Masters Tarrega and Pujol. Alberto Ponce has also contributed to the dissemination and development of contemporary music for his instrument, notably with Maurice Ohana (“Si le jour sembl” “and” Trois graphics pour Guitare et orchester “at Arion), Charles Chaines (” Visions concertantes “at EMI), Félix Ibarondo (” Amairuk “recording for the memory of the 30 years of the Estoril festival and” Cristal y Piedra “)

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