In Cuba, she was a student of the prestigious teacher Teresita Junco.
She received the Master of Fine Arts degree as a concert pianist, accompanying pianist and piano teacher in 1986, at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in the class of the artist emeritus of Russia Valery Kastélsky (disciple of H. Neigáuz) culminating her postgraduates studies (performance phd) in 1989 with the highest grades.
Ofelia Montalvan was piano professor at the Higher Institute of Art of The Havana since 1986; and between 1994 and 2002 at the Mérida State Symphony Orchestra and the University of Los Andes in Venezuela. Her students have been laureated at the International Competitions: Valletta, Malta; Val Tidone Italy; Neue Sterne, Germany; Piano & Artists, Alcala Gran Klavier, etc. He has taught courses of Piano Methodology and Interpretation in several countries.
She has played in master classes of the Stuttgart Bach Academy and in masterclasses of the cellists Natalia Gutman, Philippe Müller, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. She has offered recitals with French violinist Maurice Hasson, professor at the Royal Academy of London and clarinetist Marian Liebowitz of the San Diego University.
She has performed in Russia, Italy, France, Cuba, Venezuela, Uruguay, Portugal, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Japan and Spain; at the Rachmaninov Hall, Maly Sal, Pushkin Museum and Moscow Kremlin, C.C. Gulbenkian of Paris and Lisbon, Münsterhof of Strasbourg, National Music Auditorium of Madrid; Barcelona Petit Palau ; Music House of Oporto, etc. He has also made recordings for Sony Spain.
Since 2002 she collaborates as pianist at the Reina Sofía School’s Cello Sony Chair with the professor Ivan Monighetti, and also collaborated with professor Natalia Shakhovskaya.
She is currently professor and Head of the Piano Department at the El Escorial Conservatory.