Olga De Blanck Martín

Who is Olga De Blanck Martín?

Olga De Blanck Martín was a Cuban pianist, guitarist and composer. She was born in Havana, the daughter of Hubert de Blanck and Pilar Martín. She studied music in Cuba, and in 1938 in the United States and Mexico.

De Blanck worked as pianist and performed in the Havana musicals Vivimos hoy, Hotel Tropical and Cuento de Navidad. In 1945 her father founded the Hubert de Blanck Conservatory and in 1955 she became director. With music teacher and composer Gisela Hernández Gonzalo who also worked at the conservatory, De Blanck developed a music education system that made significant changes in Mexican music education. With Gonzalo, she also co-founded Ediciones de Blanck publishing and was instrumental in publishing critical editions of Ignacio Cervantes' music.

Three of De Blanck's compositions received the Cuban national prize in separate competitions: Mi guitarra guajira, Homenaje a la danza and Pentasílabo. De Blanck worked for the National Council for Culture.