Laura Ribes Franco from Spain

How did you find out about this programme? 

“My oboe teacher in Spain recommended applying to the Malmö Academy of Music. He was an exchange teacher in Malmö a couple of years ago and got to know the school from the inside. He only had good things to say about his stay here. I also have a friend who studied here last year and he also recommended applying.”
 
Why did you choose this programme?

“I chose Malmö Academy of Music because it has good teachers. Sweden is a good country to live in – the country invests a lot in good education.”
 
Has the programme lived up to your expectations so far?

“Yes, I’m very happy with my studies here in Malmö. The Malmö Academy of Music is better than my school in Spain. The concert hall, Rosenbergsalen, has fantastic acoustics and is very encouraging to play in. Things like good practice rooms and a good library are also something that is better compared to where I come from. I’m very happy with my teacher, Cristina Monticoli – she is an amazing teacher to work with!”
 
What is the best thing about your programme?

“I’m very focused on playing the oboe. The Academy of Music’s orchestra project weeks are very important to me. I have done two projects so far and I will participate in another two projects during the spring semester. All in all, I will play in five out of six project weeks during my stay in Malmö, which is very good.”
 
Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies?

“Yes, I like to work in projects. It’s more like real life working in an orchestra. The atmosphere is good.”
 
What do you think of the teaching style?

“I think it's very good. My teacher, Christina Monticoli, is really a fantastic teacher. I think it’s good that I have a teacher that is working in an orchestra, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, and I’m learning a lot. She’s demanding but at the same time she is very understanding and she cares very much about all her students.”
 
What was your first impression of the Malmö Academy of Music?

“My studies started the final week of August, when I attended the Academy of Music's Introduction Week. All new students at the school, approximately 120 Swedish and international students, worked together in four different workshops during the week. We also got practical information about the school. During the evenings, the Student Union of the school arranged excursions to different spots in Malmö, for example the biggest park in town, ‘Pildammsparken’, where we played some games and got to know each other. On another afternoon we were invited to join a Swedish ‘fika’ to learn more about Swedish culture. The Introduction Week ended with a concert with all the students on stage. After that, the school funded a fantastic buffet and the Student Union arranged a party.

I very much appreciated working with the music and doing fun things in the evenings with my student friends. I think the Academy of Music has a very good organisation, especially the Department of Performance and Church Music Programmes, which I have experience from. If I ask something, I always get an answer. They always try their very best to solve the problems that I’ve come up with.”
 
What do you think of Malmö? 

“I like Malmö. It’s not a big city, but you can do big city things. It has everything that you need to live a rich and exciting life when you are my age. At the same time, it’s a quiet city. There are parts that are calm and quiet, for example all the parks and areas of recreation.”
 
What are your plans for the future?

“I will do auditions to be able to work in an orchestra in the future, which is my dream. I would also like to teach my instrument, the oboe, at all levels from beginner to university level – that is my second goal in life. Perhaps I can combine these two occupations. That would be the ultimate situation for me.”