Thursday 28 July 2005, at 8.00 pm

Juan Paradell Solé, organ

Juan Paradell Solé is organist of the Basilica of St. Maria Maggiore in Rome. He began his musical studies with the gregorianist P. Albert Foix. After regular courses at the municipal Conservatory of his native town, Igualada (Barcelona) in Spain, and the Conservatory of the Gran Teatro at the Liceo in Barcelona, he commenced organ studies with Montserrat Torrent. He attended courses in choral direction and musical pedagogy at Lleida, Spain, with Leopold Massó and Erwin List. In 1972 he was awarded the "Mención de Honor" in the competition for young pianists at Vilafranca del Penedés, Barcelona. He moved to Rome in 1973 to continue his organ, piano and composition studies with Valentí Miserachs, gaining his diploma in organ and organistic composition in 1981 at the State Conservatory of Music. He subsequently continued his studies with Günther Kaunzinger in Germany. He is a regular concert performer across Europe, participating in numerous international organ festivals. His repertoire includes music by composers from the old to the contemporary, with a particular interest in Spanish music. He has recorded extensively, and has premiered many contemporary organ works. He teaches organ and Gregorian chant at the Italian State Conservatory of Music in Benevento.