He began his music studies at the age of 5 in the city of Lleida with Mr. Jordi Montagut, continuing his studies from 1982 to 1984 under Professor José Muñoz Coca in Barcelona. Moving to Barcelona in 1986, he attended classes for the Higher Music Degree at the Municipal Higher Conservatoire while undertaking further guitar studies with Mr Manuel González. In the academic years 1988-1989 and 1989-1990 Carles obtained the highest qualifications in the seventh and eighth guitar courses (higher degree in performance) at the Liceu Higher Conservatoire, Barcelona, under the direction of Jaume Torrent.
He won a series of scholarships, including Scholarship Competition for the Fine Arts (Music and Dance Section) of the Excelentísima Diputación of Lleida in 1984, 1986, 1987 and 1988, and Honour Diploma and Finalist in the T.I.M. Competition, organized by the Italian Musical Youth Association in 1997.
As well as his current post in Irún, he has taught at the "Ricardo Viñes" Music Academy in Lleida and the Professional Music Conservatoire, Cáceres, in addition to masterclasses and courses at the Bahrain Music Institute (Persian Gulf) and the University of Ankara (Turkey). In 1998 he was member of the jury at the International Guitar Competition of Zarautz.
As well as being Director and organizer of the "I International Guitar Festival of Irún", Carles Pons i Altés is Founder of the cultural association "Música Oberta" in Lleida, Organizer of the "I Festí de les Muses" music festival at the University of Lleida in 1989 and 1990, and Coordinator of the "I Music Week" in the Music Conservatoire of Balaguer (Lleida) in 1991.
He has recorded for Chanel 1 of the RTB (Bahrain Radio and Television) and for RTT1 (Turkey Radio and television), and in 1999 recorded a CD, together with several Basque guitar players, devoted to the music by J. de Azpiazu. Also in 1999, he was Editor of the music, revision and cooperation in the three volumes of the Guitar Handbook "Elijo mis obras" published by Ed. Donostiarra.
A concert career spanning nearly 20 years has taken him to all parts of Spain, as well as to Bahrain, Ankara (Turkey) and Greece.
Telephone: + 34 /973- 27 14 31
E-mail Carles Pons i Altés
For further details, see Carles Pons i Altés