Team
Laura Verdugo del Rey
Directora General
Laura Verdugo del Rey studied her degree in guitar at the Royal Higher Conservatory of Music of Madrid and went on to complete postgraduate studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. She completed a Master course in Interpretation at the Hogeschool Zuid Conservatory of Maastricht (the Netherlands) studying under Demetrio Ballesteros, Àlex Garrobé and Carlo Marchione.
She was Artistic Director of the International Andrés Segovia Festival and has performed concerts and given master classes both in Spain and in countries such as the Netherlands, Italy, Iceland, Belgium, Germany and Greece.
As well as performing as soloist with various orchestras such as the Nova Cámara Orchestra of Madrid, the Saint Cecilia Orchestra of Simpelveld (the Netherlands) and the Saint Petrus Orchestra of Maastricht (the Netherlands) she has made recordings with the television company Globo Media and forms part of The Violin-Guitar Duo ISET.
She has won numerous national and international prizes and awards: first prize in the competition of the City of Arriondas Festival, Guitar Prize at the City of Valladolid Festival, a NUFFIC scholarship awarded by the Dutch government and the special José Ramírez scholarship awarded by the A.I.E. As concert player she was also selected to take part in the tours of INJUVE.
She has received master classes given by José Tomás, Carles Trepat, Zoran Dukic, Leo brouwer, Marco Socías, Betho Davezac, Aniello Desiderio, Favio Zanon, Roberto Aussel, Tilman Hopstock, Pavel Steild, among others.
At present she teaches guitar at the Higher School of Music Katarina Gurska in Madrid and is a cultural manager, studying a Master course in Management of cultural and creative industries at the European University Miguel de Cervantes.
Esther Martín Sánchez-Ballesteros
Esther Martín Sánchez-Ballesteros has a PhD degree in journalism from the University San Pablo CEU and a degree in information science from the Complutense University of Madrid. She completed her studies in music at the Royal Higher Conservatory of Music of Madrid. She has coordinated online communication projects for the Albéniz Foundation and the Andrés Segovia Festival and collaborated with various media such as “El cultural de El País” of Uruguay or the classical music web Beckmesser.com.
She is the author of the book “Classical Music and the Press, looking towards the twent-first century” in which she investigates the role of classical music in journalism. At present she teaches at the University Alfonso X el Sabio and writes for specialised publications such as RITMO
Elena Ortega Pinilla
Elena Ortega is a classical guitarist from Madrid. She has taken part in different festivals and performed in concerts both in Spain and other countries. She completed her guitar studies at the Royal Higher Conservatory of Music of Madrid under Gabriel Estarellas, Iliana Mateos and Tomás Campos. At the same time she studied for her Degree in Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. She then took a Master course in Interpetation of the classic guitar directed by Francisco Bernier at the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville and a second Master course in Soloist Interpretation of Spanish music at the Katarina Gurska Higher School of Music studying under Àlex Garrobé and Laura Verdugo del Rey. She has also taken master classes with other eminent guitarists such as Leo Brouwer, David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Pepe Romero or Ricardo Guillén. At present she divides her time between teaching the guitar and performing in concerts. She is first guitarist with the Guitar Orchestra of Madrid and is member of various groups of chamber music.
Joaquín Rodríguez Jadraque
Joaquín Rodríguez Jadraque completed his degree in European Business Science (E-4) at the University Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE) and went on to study his MBA (Master in Business Administation) degree at Middlesex University in London. He has taken courses in business administration given by the IESE and the Harvard Business school.
His experience in the world of business extends over more tan 25 years, working with international companies such as Endesa, Enel Green Power or the Blackstone Group where he has developed and managed projects related to energy.
Apart from his professional career, he has managed the sponsorship and funding of cultural and sporting events including The Classical Music Cycle of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in the Parco Auditorium of Music in Rome or the Raiders Trophy. At present he is studying for his higher degree in music at the Katarina Gurska Conservatory in Madrid.
Ramón Barber Castaño
Ramón Barber Castaño studied Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and then went on to complete his PhD in Industrial Engineering at the Carlos III University, also in Madrid. At present he is teaching at the Carlos III University where he is director of the department of Engineering Systems and Automatics. His research is centred on robotics and automation and he has taken part in a number of national and international projects. He has collaborated in the organisation of important international meetings in the field of robotics.
His great love for the classical guitar has led him to become member of various groups of players in Madrid. He has taken part in discussions that aim to merge technology with culture, promoting the inclusion of the Spanish guitar in events associated primarily with technology.
Yhael May
Marketing and Production
Graduated in Classical Guitar from the “Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid” and with a Master’s Degree in Education from the “International University of Valencia”, she is a teacher in Secondary Education, director of the “DAYHA MUSIC/ARTS” Academy and member of the Latin Grammys.
Influenced by her large musical family and under the tutelage of her father, the composer and guitarist Jesús Martínez Torres, she began playing the guitar at the age of 5. She has won numerous awards in guitar competitions, named “Giraldillo de Honor for the best classical guitar performer” and in 2023 she received 2 awards at the “MUSIC & STARS AWARDS” in the United States for the production, recording and editing of her video clip. “FOG”. She is a singer and has performed on national and international stages, collaborating with famous artists and TV.
Her debut album “NIEBLA”, released in 2023, is her most personal project and highlights the original guitar compositions composed by her father.
Loengri Arencibia
Journalism
Advertising and Public Relations student at the Complutense University of Madrid. I have coordinated the team of deans of a university college and was responsible for organizing leisure and cultural activities there. On the other hand, I have directed the design and management of social networks for LENTO, a caps and casual fashion brand.
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