Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano facts for kids
Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano was born in Madrid, Spain, on February 16, 1946. She is a famous harp professor. She teaches at the Royal Superior Music Conservatory of Madrid. She also helped start the RTVE Orchestra. Many people say she created the Modern Spanish Harp School. This means she changed how the harp is taught and played in Spain.
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Early Life and Music
Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano started learning music very young. She was only four years old. When she was six, she joined the Royal Superior Music Conservatory of Madrid. There, she studied the harp, piano, and ballet.
She quickly became a talented solo performer. She won many awards and traveled to cities like Sienna and Paris. Later, she became one of the first members of the Radio Televisión Española Symphony Orchestra. This is a very important orchestra in Spain.
When she was just 18, she became a Harp Professor. She was the youngest person ever to hold this position in Spanish music history. Her work included performing, teaching, and doing research.
Her Education
Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano achieved great things in her studies. She graduated from the Royal Superior Music Conservatory of Madrid. She received a special award for her excellent work there.
She also earned a Masters degree in Philosophy and Human Arts. Later, she completed two PhDs. One PhD was in Architecture from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Her second PhD was in History from the University San Pablo-CEU of Madrid.
Her Career and Contributions
In 1976, Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Critics gave her great reviews. The New York Times newspaper said she was changing how the harp was played. They noted her new sound and techniques. After this concert, New York City named her the "Best Young Foreign Artist of the Year."
She has written many articles and books. These works are about teaching music, music history, and how music is studied. She especially focuses on Spanish music, especially for the harp. She has also studied old music papers. Her books are published by ARLU publications. This is part of the Ludovido Harpist Association. She has also helped write music dictionaries.
Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano has recorded several music albums. Most of these albums feature Spanish music. They also include a special style called "ludoviquiano." These albums help people remember Ludovico. He was a famous harpist long ago. He played for the Catholic Monarchs in Spain.
The ARLU Technique
Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano created a special way of teaching called the ARLU Technique. This method is used at the Complutense University of Madrid and the RCSM de Madrid. Many music teachers in Spain were her students. Her students from other countries have also shared her ideas.
This technique helps students understand the harp in many ways. It's not just about playing notes. She wanted the harp to be dynamic and expressive. This means it can create many different musical effects. She is known for being a true innovator in harp playing. She is also seen as the founder of the modern Spanish school of harp. Many students from other countries visit her to learn. They are drawn by her skills as a harpist and scholar.
Ludovico Harpist Association
In 1988, the Ludovico Harpist Association was started. Its goal is to protect and celebrate Spanish harp music. It also honors Ludovico, the famous harpist. In 1993, the association began the Harpist Ludovico International Harp Competition. This competition helps young, talented harpists.
This competition has become one of the most important in the world. A multicultural festival happens at the same time. The competition takes place every three years. It is held at the royal site of "Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial." Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano is the main supporter of this event.
In 2000, she gave her personal collection to the foundation. This collection included old harps and many specialized documents. She wanted future generations to have access to these resources. The collection has over 10,000 books about art, history, philosophy, and music.
She also started the Spanish Chamber Music Group "Ludovico Harpist." This group performs Spanish chamber music. Many of these pieces are written for Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano. The ARLU Association publishes and records their music.
Maria Rosa Calvo-Manzano has received many honors. She is a member of the Academy of Fine Arts and Historic Sciences of Spain. She has also won many national and international awards. The King of Spain has given her two special decorations. These are "El Lazo de Isabel la Católica" and "La Encomienda de Alfonso X el Sabio."
See also
In Spanish: María Rosa Calvo-Manzano para niños
