Michelle Pena González is a young pianist from Ribeira who, from September, will take her passion for the piano to the Latvian town of Valka, joining its music school as a teacher thanks to a cultural exchange program between “the two Valgas”.

Since the twinning between the Galician Valga (Pontevedra) and its Latvian counterpart was formalized in 2016, cultural and educational initiatives between the two communities have not stopped growing. Thus, the next to write her name in this history of collaboration will be Michelle.

The pianist’s journey is not the result of chance, but of a commitment to her training and a clear international vocation. Her path began after attending a masterclass with the CSM, where she was a student of the renowned pianist Ilona Timchenko. After this pleasant experience, she decided to complete her Music Degree there, specializing in Piano Performance.

During the following years, Michelle did not stop growing professionally. She started working in an academy in Cangas, in the conservatory of Cambados and in the Escola de Música de Vilaboa. She is currently studying for a master’s degree in Instrumental Pedagogy at the Alfonso X El Sabio University.

Starting next year, her talent and experience will cross Europe to settle in the Baltic region, where she will work as a piano accompanist and complementary piano teacher in Latvia. “I always dreamed of living experiences abroad and getting to know other musical environments, so this opportunity in the Latvian Valga is a motivation for me,” she assures with enthusiasm.

In addition to the professional aspect, Michelle highlights her cultural interest in the Baltic country: “In that area there is still a very strong musical influence from the former Soviet Union and music is considered an essential part of education, which makes me very curious”.

With this new challenge, the young Galician girl becomes a new link between the two locations, demonstrating how music can be a common language that unites communities thousands of miles apart.