Staff Spotlight | Queralt Giralt Soler’s Summer of International Music Practice

Queralt Giralt Soler performing at Teatro Capovolto, Trento, during MusicaRiva Festival. Photo courtesy of Queralt Giralt Soler.

This summer, THE BLANC staff member Queralt Giralt Soler has been actively engaged in a series of international performances, educational initiatives, and artistic residencies across Europe and the United States, continuing to expand her creative practice through cross-cultural collaboration. Her summer journey reflects THE BLANC’s ongoing commitment to supporting the professional development and artistic growth of its team members, both in New York and on the international stage.

Queralt began the summer in Avinyó, Spain, where she participated in Tallers Musicals d’Avinyó, a renowned music festival and educational program. As a faculty member, she taught modern strings while also performing alongside an outstanding roster of musicians, including Grammy Award-winning, New York-based saxophonist Miguel Zenón. The experience brought together performance, education, and artistic exchange within an international learning environment.

The MediBa 4tet (Mediterranean–Balkan Quartet) is an acoustic ensemble made up of musicians from four different regions, Maša Vujadinović (voice), Jakob Kobal (accordion), Queralt Giralt Soler (cello), and Andrea Dionisi (drums/percussion). Photo Courtesy of Queralt Giralt Soler.

She then embarked on a European tour with MediBa Quartet, her Mediterranean-Balkan ensemble that brings together musicians from across the Mediterranean and Balkan regions. Beginning in Spain and continuing through Italy as part of the Musica Riva Festival, the tour featured performances at remarkable venues, including Bosco Arte Stenico in Stenico and Teatro Capovolto in Trento. The ensemble presented contemporary interpretations of diverse musical traditions, as well as original compositions, to audiences across Europe.

The tour will continue this September with performances in Slovenia and Montenegro before concluding in Italy at the prestigious Suoni delle Dolomiti Festival, one of the country’s most celebrated music festivals.

Zambra (from the Arabic word for "gathering") is a unique collaboration of global artists from Andalusia, NYC, Atlanta, Catalonia, and Tehran, bridging flamenco, Persian classical, Hindustani, Catalonian, and jazz traditions through original compositions and imaginative arrangements of traditional melodies. Photo Courtesy of Queralt Giralt Soler.

At the same time, Queralt’s other ensemble, Zambra Collective, was selected for the highly regarded Avaloch Farm Music Institute Residency. During the residency, which will take place this August, the group will develop and record its debut album, scheduled for release in early 2027.

MediBa Quartet performing at Teatro Selva, BoscoArteStenico, Stenico, Italy. Photo courtesy of Queralt Giralt Soler.

At THE BLANC, we believe that an arts institution should not only present artistic work but also actively foster the creative and professional development of the people who make our community thrive. We are proud to support our staff members as they pursue opportunities for artistic research, international collaboration, performance, and education around the world.

Queralt Giralt Soler’s summer projects exemplify the spirit of curiosity, collaboration, and creative excellence that defines THE BLANC. By engaging with artists and audiences across cultures, she continues to build meaningful artistic connections while bringing new perspectives and experiences back to our community.