BCAM will once again bring together mathematics and music from june 20 to 28 in the second edition of the "VILLA DE BILBAO" music competition

•  This cultural initiative, part of the ‘2M: Mathematics and Music’ project, will take place at the "Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga" Conservatory in Bilbao, featuring two categories: violin and piano. The closing ceremony will be held on June 28 at the Sociedad Bilbaina.
•  The main objective of the competition is to promote mathematical and musical culture and to encourage the musical development of young pianists and violinists.
•  The initiative is part of Bilbomath, a collaboration agreement between Bilbao City Council and BCAM aimed at promoting internationalization and innovation in talent attraction.
•  Participants are free to choose their repertoire. Registrations are now open to pianists and violinists born between 1993 and 2017. Competition rules are available at this link.
•  Prizes will include concerts at the Sociedad Bilbaina and the Bilbao Conservatory, along with scholarships ranging from €500 to €1,000.
•  The event will also feature parallel programming aimed at bringing mathematics and music closer to the general public. Further details will be announced soon.

What do music and mathematics have in common? At first glance, they may seem like two separate worlds, but both disciplines enrich each other. From rhythm to structure, from the creation of instruments to modern technology, mathematics lies at the heart of music. Based on this connection, ‘2M: Music and Mathematics’ and the "Villa de Bilbao" music competition were launched last year by BCAM – Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, a Severo Ochoa Excellence Research Center accredited three consecutive times (2013, 2018, and 2021).

This initiative, part of the BILBOMATH program established through a collaboration between the Bilbao City Council and BCAM, seeks to foster internationalization and innovation in talent attraction. The second edition will take place from June 20 to 28 at the "Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga" Conservatory in Bilbao. The awards ceremony and closing event will be hosted at the Sociedad Bilbaina.

The main goal of the initiative is to promote both mathematical and musical culture, and to stimulate the musical development of young pianists and violinists. It offers a pedagogical platform to support their artistic growth, providing a space to share experiences and musical interests while allowing music and mathematics to flow independently — and revealing the beauty that emerges at their intersection.

‘2M: Mathematics and Music’ is artistically directed by Luca Fanelli, Ikerbasque Research Professor at UPV/EHU and BCAM, and a pianist.

The main component of the event will be the auditions. Pianists and violinists can now register – until June 1 via this website – and will perform in different categories (A to I) based on their birth year, ranging from 1993 to 2017.
Participants are free to choose their repertoire. Registration fees range from €40 to €60 depending on the category. Competition rules are available at this link.

PRIZES
The absolute first-prize winners of each category will receive a plaque and diploma at the closing ceremony. All other awarded contestants will receive a medal and diploma once the results are announced for their respective categories.

For Categories G, H, and I, additional prizes will be awarded:
● Category G: A shared concert with the winner of Category H at the Bilbao Conservatory + a €500 scholarship to cover mobility expenses related to the concert.
● Category H: A shared concert with the winner of Category G at the Bilbao Conservatory + a €750 scholarship to cover mobility expenses related to the concert.
● Category I: A solo concert at the Sociedad Bilbaina + a €1,000 scholarship to cover mobility expenses related to the concert.

Artistic Direction: Luca Fanelli (Ikerbasque Research Professor, UPV/EHU and BCAM; pianist)
Co-Artistic Directors: Ales Larrazabal (Bilbao Conservatory; pianist); Rubén Darío Reina (RTVE Orchestra; violinist); Maite Villate (Bilbao Conservatory; pianist)

The event is organized with the collaboration of Bilbao City Council; UPV/EHU; the "Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga" Conservatory of Bilbao; Sociedad Bilbaina; and Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science.

The event will also feature parallel programming aimed at bringing mathematics and music closer to the general public, with further details to be announced soon.