Carme Vilà facts for kids

Carme Vilà i Fassier (born in 1937) is a talented pianist from Catalonia, a region in Spain. She is known for her amazing piano skills and for leading the Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona from 1997 to 2001.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Carme Vilà was born in Roses, a town in Girona, Spain. Music was in her family's blood, as she was the fourth generation of pianists! She started playing the piano when she was just four years old, learning from Emilia Palau.

Becoming a Piano Star

When Carme was 12, she joined the Conservatori Superior del Liceu in Barcelona, a famous music school. She worked incredibly hard and graduated at 16 with top grades and special Silver and Gold medals.

Her musical journey continued as she studied with other great teachers. At 17, she learned from Béla Síki in Switzerland. She even reached the finals of the Geneva International Piano Competition in both 1953 and 1955, showing her incredible talent early on.

In 1959, Carme went to the Musik Hochschule in Vienna, Austria, to study with Professor Richard Hauser. While there, she won the Haydn-Schubert International Competition, which was a big achievement!

Advanced Studies and Awards

Carme Vilà kept learning and growing as a musician. In 1961, she earned a special diploma called the Reifeprühfung from the Musik Akademie in Vienna, again with the highest possible score. She also had the chance to study with other world-famous pianists like Alfred Brendel, Paul Badura-Skoda, and Jörg Demus. In 1962, she received an extraordinary prize from the Chigiana Academy of Siena after taking courses with Alfred Cortot and Guido Agosti. Her dedication and skill were recognized again in 1966 when she received the Harriet Cohen Medal in London.

Career and Teaching

From 1967 to 1972, Carme Vilà worked as an assistant to Paul Badura-Skoda and was a special artist at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside in the United States. The university even gave her an honorary doctorate degree, which is a very special award! During this time, she performed many concerts in South America with the famous violinist Ruggiero Ricci.

Returning to Spain

Carme Vilà returned to Spain in 1977. She became a professor at the Municipal Conservatory of Barcelona, sharing her knowledge and passion for music with new students. Later, from 1997 to 2001, she became the director of the Conservatory, leading the school and helping shape the next generation of musicians.

See also

In Spanish: Carme Vilà i Fassier para niños