Augustin Léon Ara

Augustin Léon Ara was born in 1936 in Santa Cruz on the Canarian Islands, where he started to study music with his parents. He continued his studies in the Royal College of Music in London with Professors Albert Sammone, Cecil Aronovitz and Alan Loveday. Later he was student of Professors André Gertler and Louis Poulet at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels (which he completed with first prize) and Belgian Reine Elisabeth Chapelle Musicale. He is very active in performing music, nearly in every country of Europe and America. He is one of the most recognised Spanish violinists in the world. He has recorded many albums (e.g. for Decca, Ariola, EMI, Phonic).

He is a prize-winner of the International Competitions in Darmstadt (1957), Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznań (1957) and Queen Elisabeths' in Brussels (1959). Has also sat on the jury of the 11th Wieniawski Competition (1996).

He was Professor of violin at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique in Brussels, Conservatoire Superieur in Barcelona and Jeune Orchestra National d'Espagne. 

Augustin Léon Ara is a member of the Kings Academy of Fine Arts and the Knight of the Order of Queen Isabel the Catholic, given to him by the King of Spain.

[2005]

Rec. competition presentation (Wieniawski Competition, 1957).

Artist's official website: www.leonara.com