The conductor of the OFUV is thus the first Spaniard to obtain this recognition, to which 200 candidates aspired, of which 14 were selected to compete.

The competition has been held over the last few days at the Paris Philharmonic together with the Mozart Orchestra of the French capital, Beatriz Fernández being the only Spaniard to reach the final in the two editions of the competition held so far.

Beatriz Fernández, who shared nationality with the also Spanish conductor Mercedes Díaz, made it to the grand final after the different classification phases, also obtaining the Art Prize, which will allow her to conduct one of the most important orchestras in the city of Paris in a concert that will be broadcast and recorded by the ARTE.TV Channel.

Among the jury that awarded both prizes to the Valencian conductor was the American conductor and violinist Marin Alsop.

Beatriz Fernández Aucejo

Born in Paiporta (Valencia), she holds a degree in Music Teaching from the Universitat de València, a degree in Clarinet from the Joaquín Rodrigo Conservatory of Music in Valencia, a professional degree in Piano from the Professional Conservatory of Music in Torrent, a degree in Wind Orchestra Conducting from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (United Kingdom) and a degree in Orchestra Conducting from the Manuel Masotti Little Conservatory of Music in Murcia.

She studied conducting at the Mozarteum University (Salzburg) and at the Academia Chigiana (Siena), and with leading maestros such as Peter Gülke, Rodolfo Saglimbeni and Michael Tabachnick. She is currently studying with Arturo Tamayo at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano (Switzerland).

She has been assistant conductor of the Banda Municipal de Barcelona and guest conductor in different national and international orchestras. In recognition of her professional career, she has received several awards, such as the Isabel Ferrer Prize from the Valencian government, to which must be added the prizes won this week in Paris.

She is currently conductor of the Lira Castellonera and since September 2018 she has been principal conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Universitat de València.