On the evening of Tuesday, August 18, the piano once again took center stage in a night where talent, sensitivity, and music came together at Teatro Santander. There, Colombian pianist and composer Juan Pablo Cardona Jaramillo was crowned the winner of the professional category at the 23rd edition of the National Piano Competition.
Cardona Jaramillo captivated both the audience and the jury during the grand final, where he shared the stage with pianists David Torres Flórez and Matthew Garvín Díaz. Both finalists had reached this stage after demonstrating a high level of artistry throughout the competition.
With performances including Luis A. Calvo’s Spes Ave and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody, among other works, Cardona Jaramillo claimed first place in one of Colombia’s most important competitions for the development and promotion of emerging piano talent. As part of his prize, he received a COP 10 million travel voucher, redeemable over one year.
Juan Pablo Cardona Jaramillo
Juan Pablo is a pianist and composer from Medellín. His passion for music began at the age of four, when he started studying the violin. At nine, he discovered the piano, an instrument that opened up a new perspective on music and fueled his dream of eventually becoming an orchestra conductor.
Since then, he has pursued rigorous musical training and built an outstanding artistic career both in Colombia and abroad. Cardona Jaramillo has performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras, including the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, the EAFIT Symphony Orchestra, the Petrof Fest Chamber Orchestra in Mexico, and Iberacademy, among others, performing both works from the classical repertoire and his own compositions.
Second place went to David Torres Flórez, who received a COP 8 million travel voucher. Matthew Garvín Díaz took third place and received a COP 3 million travel voucher.
The competition was judged by a panel of three internationally recognized experts: Daniela Salinas of Argentina, Dmytro Choni of Ukraine, and Mangfred Mora of Ecuador. The jury accompanied and evaluated the participants throughout the competition leading up to the grand final.
The grand final took place as part of the 43rd International Piano Festival, one of the most representative cultural and musical events organized by the Universidad Industrial de Santander. The festival brings together distinguished performers and music enthusiasts around the piano.
