BIOGRAPHY
Abel Paúl was born in Valladolid, Spain in 1984. He studied composition (BMus and MMus) at the
Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Fabio Nieder and Richard Ayres as main professors, and at the
Universität der Künste in Berlin with Walter Zimmermann. From 2009-2011 he followed a
postgraduate program at that institution, where he graduated with distinction. He holds a PhD from
the University of Huddersfield (UK), where he studied under the supervision of Aaron Cassidy and
Peter Ablinger. Additionally, Paúl has attended master-classes by composers such as Pierluigi Billone,
Salvatore Sciarrino, Helmut Lachenmann, Peter Ablinger, Beat Furrer, Brian Ferneyhough, Chaya
Czernowin, Ivan Fedele and others.
Paúl’s music has been awarded with the following prizes: 2008 Salvatore Martirano
Composition Award (USA), National Prize of the CDMC (Spanish Contemporary music center,
2010), SUAL Award (Vienna, 2014), the “BBVA Ayudas a Creadores Culturales Award” (Spain
2014), the Internationaler Musiktheaterwettbewerb Darmstadt (Germany 2015, selected composer)
and the 2016 SGAE- CNDM Young Composers Prize (1st prize). He has received honorable
mentions at the 2013 Gaudeamus Muziekweek (The Netherlands), Mauricio Kagel Wettbewerb in
Vienna (jury: Helmut Lachenmann), INAEM-Colegio de España Award (Paris, 2013) and the
Anything Goes Prize (London, 2013). Additionally, he has been a finalist at the Gaudeamus
Muziekweek (2011) and at the Henriette Bosmansprijs (2008).
Abel Paúl was also named composer in residence at the 4th forum for young composers of the
Ensemble Aleph. He was a composer in residence at the Ligeti Academy (project in collaboration
with the ASKO-Schoenberg ensemble) and his music was selected for the ISCM’s 2009 World Music
Days in Sweden. Additionally, he has been an active participant in Acanthes, Tzlil Meudcan 2014 and
Impuls-Graz (Klangforum Wien reading panel). Abel Paúl was granted a fellowship at the
Künstlerhaus Lauenburg (Germany 2014). He was a fellow of the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome
in 2017-18.
Abel Paúl has received commissions from several international festivals and ensembles such
as the Münchener Biennale, Darmstadt Ferienkurse or the Holland Festival.
Paúl’s music has been performed by internationally renowned ensembles such as ASKO- Schoenberg
ensemble, Nieuw Ensemble, Ensemble Nikel, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Slaagwerkgroep den
Haag, Distractfold ensemble, Ensemble Aleph, Klangforum Wien, mdi ensemble, Plural ensemble,
Adapter, Insomnio Ensemble, Norrbotten NEO, ETET, Sond’Arte electric ensemble, Vertixe Sonora,
Tamgram, Ensemble Platypus, Neopercusión, Zahir ensemble, Staatsorchester Darmstadt and several
others.
His music has been performed at numerous international festivals, including the Holland
Festival, Nederlandse Muziekdagen and Gaudeamus Muziekweek (Holland); Darmstadt Ferienkurse,
Münchener Biennale, Kunstforum Hellerau, Crescendo Berlin, Unerhörte Musik (Germany); ISCM
World Music Days (Sweden); Mixtur, EMA Festival, Festival de música religiosa de Cuenca, Festival
SON (Spain); Aspekte Salzburg, Klangspuren Schwaz and Impuls (Austria); Tzlil Meudcan (Israel);
Festival Cervantino (Mexico); Spor Festival (Denmark); Time of Music (Finland); Sound of Wander
(Italy); Festival MANCA, Theatre Dunois and Centre Acanthes (France); Forum Wallis
(Switzerland); Biblioteca Nacional (Argentina), etc.
Dutch radio AVRO4, Radio France, Deutschlandfunk and Radio Nacional de España have
broadcasted Paúl’s music. His works are published by Edition Plante Berlin (www.editionplante.com)
He currently teaches at the Malaga’s Music Faculty (Spain)
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