The final audition of the Pablo Casals International Award 2024 took place last Saturday November 16th in the auditorium of the Tívoli of the Escola Municipal de Música Pau Casals del Vendrell (EMMPAC). The jury was made up of internationally renowned cellists Ophélie Gaillard, Danjulo Ishizaka, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker and Arnau Tomàs. Bernard Meillat, musical advisor of the Foundation, acted as secretary of the jury.
Luís Dias Canali (Italy, 2009) began playing the cello at the age of four, introduced by cellist and teacher Alba Page (Hochschule für Musik und Theater Zürich). He was soon admitted to the Emanuel Feuermann Konservatorium in Kronberg, Germany, under the guidance of Erik Richter.
In 2021, Luís was admitted to the Young Talents Program of the École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot (France), where he studied with cellist Henri Demarquette.
He has attended masterclasses with Joris van den Berg, Philippe Muller, Nadine Pierre, Jens Peter Maintz, and Emanuel Wolfgang Schmidt, among others.
Some of his main awards include the First Prize at the Vatelot-Rampal Prodige Art (2024), the First Prize at the International Stars at Tenerife Competition (2019), and the First Prize at the International Bach Festival Competition for Young Musicians (2018).