Musicians Francisco Coll and Pablo Heras-Casado honored at the National Music Awards of 2025
Pablo Heras-Casado and Francisco Coll, two renowned figures in the Spanish music scene, have recently been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the world of music.
Heras-Casado, a conductor of international repute, began his musical journey at the age of nine, studying piano. He continued his studies at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música Victoria Eugenia in Granada. His passion for music later led him to explore orchestral conducting, studying under Harry Christophers and Christopher Hogwood.
In 2008, Heras-Casado made his debut at New York's Carnegie Hall with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, marking the start of a successful career that has seen him serve as an invited principal director at the Teatro Real in Madrid since 2014. His repertoire covers all periods, including contemporary music. In 2024, he was awarded the National Music Prize in the Interpretation category, an honour that recognises his scope of work both within and outside Spain.
Francisco Coll, a composer with a unique voice rooted in Spanish culture, has also been celebrated. His works, characterised by a distinctive lyricism, have been performed by prestigious formations such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta. In 2025, Coll was awarded the National Music Prize in the Composition category.
Coll's works have been staged in significant venues, such as the Teatro Real de Madrid, where his work "Enemigo Del Pueblo" was presented under Heras-Casado's direction in February 2026. Coll's Cello Concerto was also interpreted by Sol Gabetta at the BBC Proms in London.
The jury for the National Music Prize 2025 was headed by Paz Santa Cecilia Aristu and included Ana Belén Faus Guijarro. Each award carries a 30,000 euro prize.
Yolanda Auyanet and Marisa Manchado were also honoured in 2024, with Auyanet receiving an award in the Interpretation category and Manchado in the Composition category.
Heras-Casado's achievements extend beyond Spanish borders. He has been invited as a director to the Bayreuth Festival three times, making him the first Spanish baton to be invited back to the German event. His recording of Bruckner's Fourth Symphony in 2024 earned him awards outside Spain.
Coll's studies took him from the Conservatories of Valencia and Madrid to London, where he obtained a Master's degree in Composition with distinction and the Ian Horsburgh Memorial Prize from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Coll premiered several works in 2024, including the Cello Concerto and "City Without Dream."
In 1994, Heras-Casado founded the Capella Exaudi (later, La Cantoría), a choir that has contributed significantly to the revival of Spanish Renaissance music.
The work of Heras-Casado and Coll continues to enrich the world of music, bridging the gap between tradition and avant-garde, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in their respective fields.
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