Joan Guinjoan

Joan Guinjoan (28 November 1931 – January 1, 2019) was a Spanish composer and pianist of Catalan origin. Born in Riudoms, Guinjoan studied at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu in Barcelona. In 1954, he moved to Paris and continued his studies at the École normale de musique. He also received instruction from Cristòfor Taltabull. After more than 250 piano recitals, he abandoned his career as a pianist in the 1960s. He then devoted himself to composition. In 1962, he joined the Schola Cantorum de Paris. He definitely returned to Barcelona the following year. In 1999 he received the Creu de Sant Jordi, a distinction awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya, then in 2001, he received the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.