Elena Ortega’s first encounter with the guitar was in Madrid where she was born and where she completed her studies. After graduating from the Madrid Royal Higher Conservatory of Music she completed a Master’s degree in Interpretation of the Classical Guitar in Seville. Later, inspired by a profound admiration for the Spanish repertoire and its affinity with music of popular origin she studied a Master’s degree in Soloist Interpretation of Spanish Music at the Katarina Gurska Higher School of Music in Madrid. Among others, she studied under David Russell, Leo Brower, Manuel Barrueco, Pepe Romero, Iliana Matos, Àlex Garrobé, Laura Verdugo del Rey, Gabriel Estrellas, Zoran Dukic and Francisco Bernier.
Her many solo performances in such renowned concert halls as the CentroCentro Cibeles, the Círculo de Bellas Artes, the Ateneo de Madrid or the Pabellón de Juventudes Musicales de Sevilla have always been resoundingly successful. She has also taken part in series such as ‘Sonidos del Alcázar’ in Seville or the International Guitar Festival “Andrés Segovia”, held in Madrid.
Elena is lead guitarrist with the Orquesta de Guitarras de Madrid and has performed as soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica Ciudad de Getafe and with the Orquesta Athanor in Split (Croatia) where she interpreted the Concierto de Aranjuez.
In addition to her busy professional life, Elena is keen to teach and encourage young guitarrists. She has collaborated in various educational projects such as the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Concierto de Aranjuez organised by the SGAE, the Escuela Popular de Madrid and the orquestra Camerata Musicalis. As a founder member of the International Guitar Festival of Madrid, an annual event that has been held since 2019, she has become interested in collaborating in the organisation of cultural events.