Ahmed Dickinson Cárdenas

Contemporary Cuban classical guitarist. He graduated with first-class honors from the Instituto Superior de Arte in La Habana, with great success in his performances. He currently teaches classical guitar at the London College of Music.

From the early years of his life, he was part of the musical group Meñique, directed by musicologist and pedagogue María Álvarez Rios, participating in numerous activities throughout the country, including performances in theater, cinema, television, at the Frontier Brigade of the Guantánamo Naval Base, FAR Universal Hall, Russian Embassy Diplomatic Corps, Ministry of Foreign Relations, Ministry of Interior, and other organizations.

In 1985, he ventured into film music in the Venezuelan/Puerto Rican/Cuban co-production film called Tesoro.

He began his musical studies on guitar in 1987 at the Guillermo Tomas Elementary Music School in the municipality of Guanabacoa, with teachers Fernando López and Roberto Kessel.

From that moment on, he began his career as a guitarist, standing out in various activities and children's competitions.

On May 26, 2000, the Music Faculty of the Instituto Superior de Arte awarded him the First Prize Musicalia 2000.

That same year he joined the Scherzo duo with Instituto Superior de Arte student Juan Pablo Oliva, making his debut during the last edition of the Young Guitar festival in the Camagüey capital, the National Music Museum, the Instituto Superior de Arte, the Latin American School of Medicine, the School of Higher Studies in Hotel and Tourism, the Convent of San Francisco de Asís, and with great success at the VII Edition of the "Rafael Cabrera in Memoriam" Young Concertists Festival, held in the city of Bayamo.

He was part of the Sonantas Habaneras orchestra, directed by maestro Jesús Ortega. In July 2000, with this prestigious group, he participated in the Universal Expo held in the city of Hannover (Germany).

He participated in the Guitar Festival "Aires Americanos" in September 2001 at the Teatro Amadeo Roldán as a guest soloist performing all compositions by Ñico Rojas, under the artistic direction of María Elena Mendiola.

He worked jointly with Ñico Rojas (founder of the feeling movement) for several years. He participated in activities in tribute to filin at the Teatro Amadeo Roldán, Spanish Cultural Center, Museum of Fine Arts, and shared the National Theater with figures such as Elena Burque, César Portillo de la Luz, Ángel Díaz, Ela Calvo, Omara Portuondo, and Ñico Rojas.

He completed postgraduate studies at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London and at the world-renowned Guildhall in the same city. He is a member of UNEAC.

Recognition
"Best solo instrumental" and "Best instrumental album" at Cubadisco 2009.
"Best song" and "Best emerging artist" at World Music Magazine.
"Best album" and "Best instrumental soloist" at the Latin America Music Awards in the United Kingdom.
"Nominated for musician of the year Latin Prize - United Kingdom 2011" This is the first time that the United Kingdom has presented an award that recognizes the contribution of Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese communities within British society.
"Nominated for Cuba disco 2012"

Described as "a true pioneer" (Classic FM Magazine), award-winning Cuban guitarist resident in London, Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas, is one of the finest interpreters of the Cuban school of classical guitar.

In spring 2016, he will launch his sixth album with Grammy-nominated fellow Cuban guitarist Eduardo Martin, and subsequently tour the United Kingdom and Europe.

A sophisticated virtuoso, Dickinson Cárdenas has performed at prestigious venues such as Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Sage Gateshead, Union Chapel, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, LSO St Luke's, and St James's Piccadilly. He has given live performances on BBC Radio 3 and BBC London. He has also participated in prominent festivals such as the London Classical Guitar Festival, the Bath International Guitar Festival, the Sage Guitar Festival, the Kings Place Music Festival, the Oxford Lieder Festival, the Ards Guitar Festival (Northern Ireland), the Dublin Guitar Week, the Hispano-American Guitar Festival (Mexico), Identidades International Guitar Festival (Cuba), and Havana International Guitar Festival.

Over the past 10 years, Ahmed has established a successful career in the United Kingdom, maintaining a performance profile and strong ties with Cuba. More recently, he has been building a reputation for his original compositional style and will present his latest works in a series of concerts later this year.

Dickinson Cardenas is widely recognized as an ambassador of the music and musicians of his native country. In 2008, Ahmed founded Cubafilin Records, a record label dedicated exclusively to promoting Cuban musicians and their original works.

For nearly ten years, Dickinson Cárdenas enjoyed the great privilege of collaborating with the prolific late guitarist and composer, José Antonio (Ñico) Rojas. Ahmed transcribed Rojas's extensive unpublished works during this period, and subsequent performances and recordings won two awards at the Cubadisco 2009 Awards, Best Instrumental Soloist and Best Instrumental Album. The same album was nominated for Best Artist and Best Newcomer in Songlines World Music magazine, and Best Album and Best Single at the Latin American Music Awards in the United Kingdom.

Passionate in his collaborations with other artists, Ahmed has released four albums (Latin Perspective, The Havana Suite, Canciones del Alma, Ben Wragg & Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas), and a solo album (Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas interprets Ñico Rojas) for which Songlines magazine wrote: "They leave you with the feeling of being deeply moved by exquisitely played pieces."

He has worked with acclaimed soprano Laura Mitchell, flamenco jazz guitarist Eduardo Niebla, Cuban percussionist Hammadi Rencurrell, violinists Emma Blanco, the Santiago Quartet, and directed the Sonantas Habaneras Cuban guitar orchestra in La Habana for two years.

In 2005, he moved to London to study with Carlos Bonell and Chris Stell at the Royal College of Music and received awards including the Royal College of Music Guitar Competition and the Ivor Mairant Guitar Competition.

In 2006, with the support of the Kramer-Chappell scholarship and the Mad Hatters Club, he pursued further studies with Robert Brightmore at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Since his arrival in the United Kingdom, Dickinson Cárdenas has received numerous awards, including Ashley Stewart Arts Sponsorship 2011, Concordia Foundation 2008-2009, and Ivor Mairants International Guitar Competition 2006.

Recent projects include a European tour with Grammy-nominated guitarist and composer Eduardo Martín, the world premiere of a guitar and violin concerto with Docklands Sinfonia, recitals with the Malta International Arts Festival, and live performances at the Royal Opera House with ballet star Carlos Acosta.