BIOGRAPHY

I was born in San Sebastián in 1958. Daughter of the Sevillian pianist and professor José Antonio Medina, Music and his study were my vocation from the cradle. My father started me and was my teacher for many years. He gave me a solid foundation and instilled in me the sense of discipline. Under his direction, I obtained the “End of Degree” First Prize in Piano and in Chamber Music at the Conservatory of San Sebastián.

In 1978 I obtained the Bengoa Award, thanks to which I gave my first solo recitals. In 1978 I moved to Seville to study Higher Degree in Music with professor Ramón Coll. The high-level musical atmosphere that was created in their classes and contact with people of the same profession allow me to obtain solidity and maturity. It was a time of discovery and explosive growth in my professional career. It was a time of discovery and musical explosion. I attended as an active member the courses given by Hans Graf, Vlado Perlemutter, Vlado Perlemutter and Dimitri Bashkirov in Madrid and Seville. I gave some recitals for “Juventudes Musicales” and I had performed Beethoven's Emperor Concert with the Betic Philharmonic Orchestra from Sevilla.

When I was 23 years old, I did a Piano Competition-Opposition and won a position as Professor at the Superior Conservatory of Music of San Sebastián, In that year I created the “Grupo Nébel” (clarinet, cello and piano), giving frequent recitals in the Basque Country. In 1985 I married José Miguel Martínez Esparza, clarinetist of the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra. Together we create the Duo and the Nébel Trio, clarinet, cello and piano, giving frequent recitals in the Basque Country. In 1986 I obtained a grant from the Basque Government to do advanced studies with the Belgian pianist Frédéric Gevers..

Upon my return I gave a Pedagogical Training Course for Piano Teachers. I was a member of the Jury of the Gernika Piano Contest and the San Sebastián City Piano Contest. As a performer. I was part of numerous chamber music formations: In addition to the “Grupo Nébel”, OSE Sextet, trio with viola, and clarinet, among others, with whom I displayed an intense concert activity. I performed in the Basque National Orchestra, Vitoria Principal Theater, University of Navarra and numerous towns in the Basque Country and La Rioja, as well as for the San Sebastián Musical Fortnight.

Between 2007 and 2010, I took a new direction in my teaching life by moving to the Higher Conservatory of Music of Navarra, where I worked as a pianist as part of the Repertoire Department. This gave me the opportunity to go on stage again on numerous occasions.

In 2012 I met the soprano Saioa López – Sánchez. We formed the Dúo Samer and we gave our first recital in Berlin.

In 2016 I created the Dúo Sarasate with the violinist Jonathan Mesonero. We have given recitals in Madrid, Barcelona, Burgos, Lion, Valladolid, Vitoria, various locations in our geography. We have made some studio and live recordings and we have been invited to play live on the Radio Clásica show "Andante con Moto”. In August 2018 we participated in the San Sebastián Musical Fortnight and in 2019 in the "Musical Tuesdays" of the Vital Foundation.

In December 2018 I gave a 5 concert tour in Chile with the Duo Nébel , next to the clarinetist José Miguel Martínez Esparza. We have visited its capital Santiago, and Viña del Mar, Chillán, Rancagua and Maipo Island.

In 2019 Mercedes Medina I created the “Dúo Zugaz” with the pianist Elena Cadierno Make known the 4 -hands piano repertoire that until not many years ago was limited to the inner circle of the home and friends, is one of our objectives. We have performed in Bilbao, San Sebastián, Melilla. And various locations in the Basque Country.