Spanish Young Music Talents: Noelia Cotuna in Whasington DC

(SYMT) is the flagship music program of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C., launched in 2022. Created to support and elevate the careers of emerging Spanish musicians, SYMT fosters artistic exchange and professional growth through collaborations with leading U.S. music schools, universities, and festivals.

More than just a performance opportunity, SYMT offers a comprehensive international experience. Participating musicians take part in a dynamic array of complementary activities —including masterclasses, lectures, workshops, and networking events— designed to expand their artistic vision and build meaningful professional connections.

All featured artists are under the age of 33 and winners of the prestigious national award from Juventudes Musicales de España, a distinction that recognizes outstanding young musical talent.

Noelia Cotuna is a prize-winner of the USA International Harp Competition, Trinity Laban Soloists’ Competition, Concurso Permanente Juventudes Musicales España and EMCY Prize, North London Camac Harp Competition and ‘Suoni d’Arpa’ International Harp Contest. She has also been awarded special prizes at the Deutscher Musikwettbewerb, by the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben, and the ARD- Competition in 2023, where she was a semifinalist.

Born in Spain in 2000, she started learning the harp at the age of six and became a student of Ana Martínez at the Professional Conservatoire of Music of Valencia. Noelia graduated with a First-Class Bachelor of Music with Honours from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, where she studied with Prof. Gabriella Dall’Olio and Frances Kelly. During this time, she was awarded the John Marson Prize for Outstanding Musicianship and the 2020 Musicians’ Company Silver Medal. She continued her Masters studies with Marion Ravot at the Universität der Künste in Berlin, where she is currently enrolled on the Konzertexamen programme. Between 2019 and 2022, Noelia was a member of the Karajan Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker, working under the guidance of Marie-Pierre Langlamet. She then spent two seasons as an academist at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, with Virginie Gout-Zschäbitz and Maria Smirnova as mentors. An experienced orchestral player, Noelia has performed and toured extensively under the baton of renowned conductors such as Kirill Petrenko, Sir Simon Rattle, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel and Donald Runnicles, amongst others. She collaborates with various orchestras, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester (DSO), Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester (RSB) and Konzerthausorchester in Berlin, Orquesta Nacional de España, BBC Symphony Orchestra.

In high demand as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, she made her concerto debut alongside the Orchestra of Valencia, and has performed with the Münchener Kammerorchester, Mozart Ensemble Berlin and Eroica Berlin. Noelia recently became Principal Harpist of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia. Season highlights will include a solo appearance with Orquesta del Reino de Aragón (ORA), chamber music tours in Germany and solo recitals in England and Spain.

Important Information

• A reservation on Eventbrite is mandatory, printed tickets are not required.
• Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Doors open 20 minutes before posted showtime.
• Ticket holders will have access to the event while space is available. A reservation does not guarantee admission.
• No Late Seating, ticket holders may not be allowed to enter 15 minutes after posted showtime.
• Right of admission reserved.
• If you need special assistance, please contact us at [email protected].

How to get there:

The best way to arrive is by public transportation. The closest Metro station is Columbia Heights (Green line). Limited metered and two-hour zoned parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods. Public parking garage is available at DC USA Shopping Mall (Columbia Heights Metro Station).

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