Joel Bou, the little piano prodigy who dreams big

On March 14th, the film Wolfgang (Extraordinary) hit theaters. It tells the story of a gifted boy with autism who dreams of becoming the world's greatest pianist. The film, based on Laia Aguilar's novel of the same name, features a fictional protagonist, but reality often surpasses imagination: Wolfgang exists, and his name is Joel Bou. He's ten years old, lives in Santa Coloma de Farners, and the piano is his passion.

Joel is a neurodivergent gifted boy who is in sixth grade because he skipped fifth grade and is studying for his first year of Professional Degree at the Isaac Albéniz Conservatory in Girona. He wants to become a great concert pianist, a dream closely linked to the Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona.

The beginning of Joel's story, an unexpected passion

It all started when Joel was eight years old. His parents, Johnny (Joan Josep) and Àlex, had to choose his birthday present, and they opted for an electric keyboard. They couldn't imagine how much that decision would change their son's life. "I loved it," Joel recalls. His fascination with the piano grew rapidly: he watched videos on the internet, taught himself melodies, and within a few days, he was already able to play songs without any prior musical training.

For his parents, it was a huge surprise. As fate would have it, shortly afterward, a client of his father's hair salon, who worked as a nurse at the Josep Trueta Hospital in Girona, told them about the grand piano that the Maria Canals Competition has permanently installed at the center. Without a second thought, the family went so Joel could experience playing on a real piano. Despite having received no formal training, Joel began playing songs like Little star, little star, where are you? and The rainbow, Simply by ear.

The Maria Canals Competition, a golden opportunity

This experience not only allowed him to come into contact with a real instrument, but also to meet the contest volunteers, who encouraged him to participate in the competition. Do you play? This initiative invites anyone to record a short musical performance and explain why they love playing the piano. The prize for the winners is a performance at the Palau de la Música Catalana. And Joel was one of them. "I'm very grateful for the contest because, thanks to it, I've been able to play at the Palau de la Música, and this is a great stage for me. It's been one of my biggest dreams." This experience further propelled him on his musical path and led him to make a key decision: to study music professionally.

After a brief stint at his local music school, Joel took the entrance exams for the Isaac Albéniz Conservatory in Girona. At just ten years old, he obtained the fourth highest grade out of ten applicants and became the youngest student at the center. He is currently in his first year of the Professional Degree and pursues an intense learning pace, always pushing himself to the limit. "It's like going to music school, but a little more difficult. They demand a lot, but I'm also very demanding of myself," he says.

Music as a means of expression

Beyond his extraordinary talent, Joel has a very special way of experiencing music. As a neurodivergent child with autism and ADHD, the piano has become a fundamental tool for channeling his energy and expressing his emotions. "Music gives him discipline and a different way of living life. It's his mechanism for expressing himself and finding balance," explains his father.

Joel's journey with the piano has barely begun, and his first performances have already arrived. In March 2024, he participated in the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the La Selva Regional Archive. He also participated in a charity event to help those affected by the DANA (Dana Disease) in Valencia.

For Joel, any occasion is a good time to play. He is passionate about the street pianos that the Maria Canals Competition installs in different locations in Barcelona and other cities. "At first I was a little embarrassed, but I quickly got used to it. Now, when they tell me there's a piano, I run over there," she says enthusiastically. Do you play?, has already performed twice at the Palau de la Música, in 2023 and 2024, and is clear that he wants to repeat the experience as many times as possible. "I'd even like to participate in the competition, but they tell me I'm still too young," explains Joel.

You can check out all the competition's activities at:https://www.mariacanals.org/