Michel Mananes, Piano

Biography

Michel Mañanes studies piano in France, Spain and Austria. With recitals for Europe and south america-. He won first prize in several young piano competitions. He is a recognized and highly successful piano teacher and continues to give concerts. Michel Mañanes has obtained, recently, the University Title of "Expert in Pianistic Interpretation", gotten with "Cum Laudae" by unanimous vote (International University of Andalusia) Michel Mañanes began his musical education at the age of six in the Conservatoire de Musique in Fontainebleau, France. With dazzling results (honor roll in all his classes). Michel had the opportunity to participate, at an early age, in various classical music concerts organized by the Conservatory. Trained by the great teacher, Gisele Lambert, he won First Place prizes in contests on interpretation, such as, the "Lucien Wurmer", the "Leopold Bellan" and the "Artistique" contest. Barely 14 years old, Michel became a pupil to Madame Genevieve Jacques-Dupont at the Conservatoire National de Troyes, finishing his musical education with First Place Honors. Returning to Spain to enter the Official Conservatory of Santander with Profesor Don Manuel Valcarcel, he won First Place prizes for the Seventh Annual "Concurso Provincial Jesus de Monasterio", the Eighth Annual "Concurso Manuel Valcarcel", and in the category of Spanish Music "Concurso Manuel Valcarcel". With a four year scholarship founded through the "Botin Foundation" of Santander, he entered the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid under the tutelage of pianist Joaquin Soriano. During his stay in Madrid, Michel perfected musical material including Harmony, Chamber Music, Teaching, Analytical Forms, and others. He graduated from his superior studies with maximum qualifications at the top of his class. Michel received a full scholarship through the Ministry of External Affairs of Austria to enter the "Hochschule für Musik" of Vienna with professors Hans Graf, Carmen Graf-Adnet and Cristina Karajeva. Michel then offered excellent recitals in various concert halls around the city and participated in international interpretation contests. He was awarded the Diploma of the Hochschule fur Musik. After his magnificent participation in Vienna in the "Neujarhskonzert", Michel returned to Spain to start intense teaching sessions while offering recitals in various locations around the country. A number of his students have started successful musical careers, consequently, Michel has acquired fame as an excellent teacher. Always involved and concerned with children and teenagers, he created the "Asociación de Juventudes Musicales de Santander" and swiftly became the President. This lead to his involvement as a musical critic within the media, when Michel Mañanes participated in the First Convention of Musical Critics of Spain in Segovia under the invitation of the "Fundacion Juan de Borbon". His concerts generate great interest, wonderful reviews, and are very well accepted by audiences. His latest concerts in Madrid, Rome, Nice (Mediterranean University), Varsovia, and London were organized by the Cervantes Institute. Critics considered Michel's results extraordinary especially regarding his Central European "mastery of the art, subtle imitative sound", and for "cutting edge versions of Spanish Classical pieces". Critically acclaimed as "always enthusiastic, his interpretations as rigorous, elegant, and always convincing; worthy of the best interpretative style that in many ways exemplifies his unusual capacity to communicate; to move you without ever losing the purest of fidelity's to the musical styles." Currently living in Madrid, Spain, Michel is a recognized, highly successful piano teacher and a music critic, who maintains the rigorous schedule of a dedicated classical concert pianist. Michel Mañanes has obtained, recently, the University Title of "EXPERT IN PIANISTIC INTERPRETATION", gotten with "CUM LAUDAE" by Unanimous vote (International University of Andalusia)