Fabiola Sebastián Guijarro

Cello

Year:: 2026/27
Born:: Madrid, Spain
Sponsor:: Fabiola Sebastián Guijarro's place at Sinfonia Smith Square is generously supported by Stuart and Imogen Brown

Biography

My first contact with classical music came through listening to Mozart’s piano pieces. Although neither of my parents come from a musical background, they noticed my fascination with Mozart and the piano, which led me to start taking piano lessons when I was just three years old.

When I auditioned for the conservatory at the age of eight, I had always imagined myself studying the piano. However, fate had a different plan for me. Almost by chance, I was encouraged to try the cello instead. It was certainly not what I first intended, but that unexpected turn became one of the most important moments of my life.

In my final year of secondary school, the COVID-19 pandemic made everything feel uncertain. Undergraduate auditions were postponed, and with no clear idea of what would happen, I decided to apply for an engineering degree in Madrid to secure a place at university. However, I was very fortunate to later be offered a place at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, where I began studying with Fernando Arias.

Studying with Fernando had a profound impact on me. He made me fall even more in love with my instrument and helped me understand that becoming a better musician is closely connected to becoming a better version of yourself. I gradually began to realise that growing as a cellist also meant learning to be patient, understanding myself and approaching challenges with courage.

Although I had some of the best years of my life in Madrid, my dream had always been to study and live in London. I was delighted to be accepted onto the Master of Music in Performance at the Royal College of Music, which opened the door to experiences I could never have imagined. After completing my Master’s with Richard Lester, I decided to pursue an Artist Diploma in Performance to study with Melissa Phelps and Richard Harwood, who encouraged me to keep developing as an artist and helped me find my own voice on the instrument. Being part of Sinfonia Smith Square feels like a natural continuation of my journey in London and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a wonderful musical community.

Outside of music, I love dancing, visiting art galleries, going for long walks and learning about science. I enjoy having these moments away from music, as they give me space to recharge and fuel my creativity.

Education

Royal College of Music, London

Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid, Spain

Quickfire Questions

What is your favourite piece of music and why do you love it?

My favourite piece is Metamorphosen by Richard Strauss. I love how the 23 string instruments for whom it is written dialogue with each other. It is a very meaningful piece for me because the first time I played it, I improved so much just by having to listen at the highest possible level. I am also fascinated by its harmonies and how the motifs evolve and transform from sorrow to exuberance and enthusiasm. One of the most incredible moments of the piece comes towards the end, when the composer quotes the Funeral March from Beethoven’s Third Symphony, remembering the victims of the Second World War. In the score, Strauss wrote “In memoriam”, making this moment even more touching.

Where’s your favourite place to listen to music and why?

My favourite place to listen to live music has to be the Royal Opera House in London. When I was three years old, my parents took me to see The Nutcracker in my hometown in Spain. I immediately fell in love with the connection between music and movement, as well as the elegance and precision of ballet. I was so inspired that I asked my parents to enrol me in ballet classes because I wanted to become a ballerina. Although I danced for several years, I stopped at the age of eight to focus on my musical training.

However, I have always felt a very special connection to ballet, especially whenever I watched videos of The Royal Ballet. In 2018, I was lucky enough to see the company’s new production of Swan Lake when they were touring in Madrid. It was a life-changing experience, since I had never connected with the music in the same way before. I remember feeling the music running through my veins as Marianela Núñez’s performance moved me to tears.

Over the past two years, I have been lucky enough to live in London and regularly attend opera and ballet performances at the Royal Opera House. Even now, I find myself becoming emotional whenever I see a Royal Ballet & Opera production live in Covent Garden. There is something magical about the attention to detail in the scenery, costumes, lighting and the way everything comes together to tell a story. I feel a particularly strong connection to the characters and the music, which is probably why my early love for ballet continues to shape how I listen to music today.

How would you persuade someone who has never heard ‘classical music’ before to come with you to a concert?

I would try to make them curious by showing them how music is connected with other art forms, history, literature and even mathematics. I would give them a little background about the piece and relate it to something they already enjoy or have probably heard before.

I would also encourage them to listen out for something specific during the concert (a particular instrument, melody or rhythm), so they have something to discover for themselves. I think that once you realise that classical music can tell stories that go beyond words and connect with experiences you can relate to, going to a concert becomes much more exciting.

What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?

When I am not playing music, I love exploring other forms of creativity. I enjoy drawing, visiting exhibitions and museums and, more recently, returning to ballet classes. Dancing allows me to experience music through movement, feeling as if my body was also part of the sound.

Besides art, I have always been curious about science and enjoyed discovering how things work. During my time studying engineering, I particularly enjoyed the physics side of it, especially acoustics and understanding how sound works. I really enjoy having different interests outside music, as they often inspire me to find creative solutions to musical challenges.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be?

If I weren’t a musician, I would probably be an engineer. I grew up surrounded by engineers, with my dad and uncles always coming up with creative solutions to everyday problems. As a child, I was constantly wondering how things worked and loved building things with Lego or whatever materials I could find around me. I think that mindset has stayed with me and influences the way I approach music now. During my practice sessions, what I enjoy most is figuring out what’s not working and finding creative ways to make it work.

After studying science for my A levels, I started a Sound and Image Engineering degree in Madrid alongside my undergraduate music degree, completing three years of the course. Although music ultimately became my career path, I would love to go back to studying engineering one day and explore how it could complement my musical life.

What’s your most memorable moment as a musician?

One of the most memorable moments I have experienced as a musician was performing at the Ateneo in Madrid with my piano trio, after winning the Jesús de Monasterio Chamber Music Competition during my final year of undergraduate studies in Madrid. The performance was filled with moments when I felt completely immersed in the music, creating an atmosphere in which it almost felt like time had stopped. I could also feel the support and warmth of the audience, with family and friends there to share that emotional moment with us.

What’s the best bit of live music you’ve ever seen?

The best bit of live music I have ever experienced was probably the Tokyo Quartet’s final performance in Madrid in 2012, just before they disbanded in 2013. It was a crazy day because I had exams at school and a concert at my music school later that day, but my parents somehow managed to take me to the National Auditorium in Madrid to listen to this iconic performance.

They performed Schubert’s Cello Quintet in C major with Gary Hoffman. I was only ten years old, but I can still remember the deep sound of the pizzicato in the second cello during the slow movement. There was something very special about hearing these legends perform one of the greatest chamber music works ever written. It is a memory that I have treasured ever since.

Biography

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