About
Short bio
Raquel García-Tomás (b. 1984) is a composer specialising in interdisciplinary creation who completed her Doctorate at the Royal College of Music.
In 2020, she received the National Award of Music (Government of Spain) ‘for the interdisciplinary, innovative, and daring nature of a distinctive and unique compositional language.’ Raquel has recently been awarded the National Culture Prize 2024 (Government of Catalonia) ‘for her excellence in musical composition, stemming from a solid education and aptitude for contemporary innovation that allow her to achieve a balance between sound and visual experimentation without losing the ability to move a broad audience.’
Her music has been performed in venues such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Auditorio Nacional de Música de Madrid, L'Auditori de Barcelona, Palau de la Música Catalana, Wigmore Hall in London, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Het Concertgebouw, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Wiener Konzerthaus, Musikverein, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Konserthuset in Stockholm or the Müpa Budapest.
In 2019, she premiered the opera buffa 'Je Suis Narcissiste' within the seasons of the Teatro Real de Madrid, Teatro Español, and the Teatre Lliure de Barcelona. The International Opera Awards nominated this opera as Best World Premiere. Recently, Raquel premiered 'Alexina B.' in the 2022/23 season at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona. This opera, created with librettist Irène Gayraud and stage director Marta Pazos, was awarded the Leonardo Grant of the BBVA Foundation and nominated for the International Opera Awards as Best World Premiere.
This season, Raquel is the composer-in-residence at the Real Filharmonía de Galicia. This will include the world premiere of ‘Ceci n’est pas un valse,’ conducted by Baldur Brönnimann, along with performances of other works from her orchestral catalogue. Raquel will be the featured composer at the Palau de la Música Catalana, with her music programmed in six concerts throughout the season, including works from her catalogue and two world premieres with soloists such as Nicolas Altstaedt and Sara Bitlloch.
Education
2012 – 2018
Doctor of Music – Royal College of Music (London).
2010 – 2012
Master of Music – Royal College of Music (London).
2005 – 2010
Bachelor’s degree in Music (Composition) – Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya.
Awards
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Gold Medal Gran Teatre del Liceu 2024
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Leonardo Grant 2024 – BBVA Foundation
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Premios Max 2024 (Fundación SGAE) – Best Musical Composition for Stage Work, for 'Alexina B.'
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Alícia Awards 2024 (Catalan Academy of Music) in the category Authorship for 'Alexina B.'
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Premi Nacional de Cultura 2024 (National Award of Culture, Governement of Catalonia).
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Premis Núvol 2023, in the category Castafiore Award, for 'Alexina B.'
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Amics del Liceu Awards 2022/23, in the category Special mention of the jury, for 'Alexina B.'
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Premio Nacional de Música 2020 (National Award of Music, Governement of Spain).
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Leonardo Grant 2020 – BBVA Foundation
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Alícia Awards 2019 (Catalan Academy of Music), in the category Interdiscipline, for 'Je Suis Narcissiste'
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Amics del Liceu Awards 2018/19 – Special Mention of the Jury, for 'Je Suis Narcissiste'
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Ópera XXI Awards – for the World premiere of 'Je suis narcissiste' by Raquel García-Tomás
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El Ojo Crítico de Música Clásica 2017 Award, Radio Televisión Española.
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Robert McFadzean Whyte Award (Doctorate - RCM, London)
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The Major Van Someren Godfrey Memorial Award (Doctorate - RCM, London)
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Berliner Opernpreis 2014, Neuköllner Oper Berlin.
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Neville Wathen Award (Doctorate - RCM, London)
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Lucy Ann Jones Award (Doctorate - RCM, London)
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Caja Madrid Foundation Grant 2012-2013 (Doctorate - RCM, London)
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Caja Madrid Foundation Grant 2012-2013 (Master - RCM, London)
Selected nominations
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Alicia Awards 2024, in the category Interdiscipline for 'Alexina B.'
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Alicia Awards 2024, in the category Best Live Performance for 'Alexina B.'
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Premios Max 2024, in the category Best Musical Show for 'Alexina B.'
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International Opera Awards 2023, in the category World Premiere for 'Alexina B.'
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International Opera Awards 2020, in the category World Premiere for 'Je suis narcissiste'
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Premios Max 2020, in the category Best Musical Composition for Stage Work for 'Je suis narcissiste'
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Alícia Awards 2020 (Catalan Academy of Music), in the category Authorship for 'Je suis narcissiste'