Paco Montalvo is the youngest violinist to make a 21st century debut in the main hall of Carnegie Hall in New York.
American and European critics have called him "A brilliant musician." In his home country, Spain, his passionate performances have garnered appearances in Melómano, Ritmo, Opus Música, Ibermúsica, and Opera Actual. He has been included in the Golden Book of Spanish Music since 2006. The famous composer and conductor Leo Brouwer wrote in 2009: "Paco Montalvo is a genius."
The 2012 Arthur Rubinstein Award for “excellence in musical interpretation and composition” stands tall among the numerous awards received by Paco Montalvo, along with his appointment as cultural ambassador for the city of Córdoba, Spain in 2006.
He completed his studies at the Córdoba Conservatory of Music with honors at age 16. At 18 years, he was one of the youngest European graduate university students.
In his short 22 years, Paco Montalvo has performed in over 20 countries with many prominent American, Asian, and European orchestras, including: the Israel Opera, the National Orchestra of Cuba, the New England Symphony, Orquesta de la RTVE de Madrid, the Budapest String Orchestra, Sinfónica de Bilbao, Filarmónica de Málaga, Sinfónica de Córdoba and Chamber Orchestra of the Prince of Asturias Foundation. He has collaborated with such notable conductors as Adrian Leaper, John Rutter, Eduardo Marturet and Günter Neuhold.
Paco began studying the violin at a very early age with his father, a professional violinist. At the age of eight, he furthered his studies in Córdoba with Yuri Petrossian and with Nestor Eidler in Barcelona. Shortly thereafter he attended several prestigious schools of music from around the world: the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Salzburg Mozarteum, the University of North Carolina in Chalotte, Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid, Fundación Barenboim-Said in Spain, the Prince of Asturias Foundation and the Meadowmount School of Music in New York.
His lengthy list of instructors includes: Zakhar Bron, Jean Jacques Kantorow, David Russell, Victor Pikaizen, Salvatore Accardo and Sally Thomas.
Paco Montalvo continues the proud Spanish musical tradition of the violinist-composer with his extensive and prolific career. His first composition, Andalusia, was acclaimed by the famed Spanish poet, playwright, and novelist, Antonio Gala and by Daniel Barenboim by his foundation.
He performs on a Nicolo Amati violin from 1660.