Iván is an 18 year old cellist from Cardiff. He began his musical studies at age six in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he studied cello with Kyle Patterson and piano with Pavlina Radoslavova. His final year at the Welsh College was marked with winning the concerto competition, performing the Elgar Concerto, second place in the Intercollegiate Piano Trio Competition, and being awarded the Principal’s Prize for his contributions to the junior department. He also gained a distinction in his ARSM piano diploma.

Iván studied at The Purcell School during his sixth form, where he was supported by the Government’s Music and Dance Scheme, and studied cello with Dr. Richard Jenkinson. During this period, he also studied at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he held principal cellist positions and was in the Lutine Prize final in 2023 and 2024.

Recent successes have included playing Shostakovich’s Second Concerto in The Purcell School’s senior concerto competition final, winning the title Gregynog Young Musician of the Year 2023, playing in a chamber music recital at Wigmore Hall, and being awarded top prizes at the 7th New Talent Festival.

Iván has an active interest in chamber music and in April he performed Mendelssohn’s Octet with Dmitri Sitkovetsky and school colleagues at the opening of the Malta Spring Festival. He hopes to establish a successful chamber group this year at the Royal College of Music, where has been awarded a scholarship to study cello with Gemma Rosefield.