Laura Peribañez is a cellist and coordinator of cultural activities in the United Kingdom. She graduated from ESMUC and the Royal College of Music in London.
What can you learn about the culture of your city of residence?
Four UK universities are in the Top 10 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 for performing arts. Specifically, the Royal College of Music (RCM) has been in the lead for two years, surpassing institutions such as the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. In front of the RCM we find the emblematic Royal Albert Hall, an auditorium that, starting in mid-July, will host more than 3,000 musicians during 8 intensive weeks of performances, and with a large female presence. This emblem of the British summer, the BBC Proms, was born to bring quality music to the greatest number of people. They succeed every year, since, thanks to the broadcasts on radio and television, they can reach 15 million viewers.
The BBC is also the creator of the BBC Young Musician, an under-18 competition that provides vital exposure for young musicians, through television, concert and recording performances. A year of study at a university like the RCM costs almost €30,000, and yet every year more international students arrive willing to work hard to make it possible, and the British stay too. The city and universities offer the best conditions for the development of musicians and artists.
How could you move to Barcelona?
Barcelona’s cultural and musical offer is now on a par with any other European city thanks to initiatives such as the Barcelona Obertura festival, promoted by Barcelona Global. Now we must bet on creating a plan for the future so that local talent is the one who fills the auditoriums tomorrow. We are talking about investing in the professional development of musicians instead of training students. Adapt the teachings to the professional reality where you are taught to find your own identity as an artist, set goals and draw up plans to achieve them. Promote interpretive excellence through the creation of regular concert opportunities, master classes and competitions such as Maria Canals. Promote international exposure with tours abroad, such as the one that will take the Barcelona Youth Symphony Orchestra for the first time to perform at Cadogan Hall in London in October.
An image of our universities must be projected that attracts international students instead of local talent leaving, with quality facilities, recording and rehearsal spaces, auditoriums, streamlining bureaucracy and making it easier to obtain scholarships. We have a talent that has the best space in which to develop, but not always the opportunities to do so.
