biography
Maria Torres Melgares is currently pursuing a Master of Music in saxophone performance at the University of Michigan where she studies with Timothy McAllister. She received her Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance in 2020 from the Fundació Conservatori Superior del Liceu (Barcelona, Spain) where she studied with Albert Julià. She is a three-time winner of the prestigious Ferrer-Salat Foundation’s Young Promises and Excellence scholarships. She participated in masterclass with Jean-Marie Londeix, Kenneth Tsé, Lars Mlekusch, Vincent David, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Christian Lauba, Pawel Gusnar, and Christian Wirth.
Maria has won several individual prizes:
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1st Prize of the Festival Internacional de Saxofones de Palmela 2021 (Portugal)
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1st Prize of the Elise Hall Competition for Emerging Saxophonists (USA)
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Honorable Mention of the International Saxophone Academy Young Artist Competition 2021 (USA)
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1st Prize of the 94th Concours International Léopold Bellan 2020 (France)
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2nd Prize of the MTNA Young Artists Competition, Woodwind Division of Michigan (USA)
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1st Prize of the Concorso Internazionale de Filadelfia (Italy)
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1st Prize of the Concours de Saxophone Parisien (France)
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2nd Prize of the Festival Internacional de Saxofones de Palmela (Portugal)
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Finalist of the Concurso de Juventudes Musicales de España (Spain)
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Hans-Schaeuble Award of the Arosa Music Academy (Switzerland)​
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She has been selected to perform a concert at the 3rd European Saxophone Congress in Italy in 2022
She is a member of the Fließen Duo with pianist Xavier Ricarte which won the 1st Prize in Chamber Music of the IV Premi de Música Ciutat de Mataró. They also have performed in the Afinitats concert series at the Sala Parés Concert Hall in Barcelona. In addition, she is a member of the Barcelona Sax Project ensemble. She has toured France, Luxembourg, and Germany as a member of the European Union Young Woodwind Orchestra (EUYWO). She has premiered new works for saxophone quartet and duo, and she collaborated in “Putting Picasso to Music” a project performing new compositions based on Picasso’s works at the Museu Picasso in Barcelona.
