Leo de Maria, Spain
Born in Granada in 1995, Carlos de la Blanca Elorza began piano studies at the age of 7 with Andrey Reznik. He later studied at the Conservatorio de Música Ángel Barrios with Javier Herreros, completing intermediate studies with top marks. In 2013, he entered the Royal Conservatory of Madrid (RCSMM), studying under Pilar Bilbao, where he graduated with honors in piano and received the Final Degree Award. He has also participated in master classes with renowned pianists including Dmitri Bashkirov, Joaquín Achúcarro, and Nikolai Lugansky.
Mr. de la Blanca Elorza has been awarded in various national and international competitions, including Marisa Montiel, María Canals, Ciudad de San Sebastián, and Ciudad de Vigo. He recently won Third Prize and the Best Spanish Music Interpreter Award at the 2024 Ferrol International Piano Competition and the Best Spanish Contestant Award at the 2025 María Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona.
He was one of twenty selected pianists for the Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition in 2022. He also participated in the Glocal Piano Project of the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano (2022 and 2024) and performed in Paris as part of the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2024. Since 2022, he has received ongoing mentorship from the renowned pianist and pedagogue Márta Gulyás.
An active chamber musician, Mr. de la Blanca Elorza has performed as part of Dúo Doré (piano four-hands) with María Escudero since 2015. Since 2024, he has served as pianist for the Coro de Niños y Jóvenes de la Comunidad de Madrid.
In addition to his performing career, Mr. de la Blanca Elorza is a dedicated educator. He has held the position of civil servant music educator in the Community of Madrid since passing the public examination in 2018. His artistic interests also extend to philosophy, which he studies at UNED. His solo recitals often blend classical repertoire with improvisational elements.
He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg under the guidance of Prof. Ralf Nattkemper.
Virtual First Round
Bach: Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, No. 24 in b minor, BWV 893
Haydn: Sonata in E-flat Major, No. 59, Hob. XVI: 49
I. Allegro
II. Adagio e cantabile
III. Finale: Tempo di Menuet
Rachmaninoff: Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5
Chopin: Étude in b minor, Op. 25, No. 10
Scriabin: Etude in d-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12
In-Person Second Round
Chopin: Barcarolle in f-sharp minor, Op. 60
Carl Vine: Resolve
Bartók: Sonata BB 88, Sz. 80
I. Allegro moderato
II. Sostenuto e pesante
III. Allegro molto
Granados: “Quejas o la Maja y el Ruiseñor” in f-sharp minor, No. 4, from Goyescas
Liszt: “Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi sonata” in d minor, No. 7, from Années de pèlerinage, S. 161
Semifinal Round – Chamber Music
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 in d minor, Op. 108
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Un poco presto e con sentimento
IV. Presto agitato
Final Round
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in b-flat minor, Op. 23
I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso—Allegro con spirito
II. Andantino semplice—Prestissimo—Tempo I
III. Allegro con fuoco—Molto meno mosso—Allegro vivo
2022 Participants
Meet the People!
Recognizing the Board of Directors, distinguished jury, guest artists, competitors, finalists, and more.
