Alina Torres Ducónger

Alina is a composer, performer, arranger, and repertorist. She is part of the Excellence Catalog of the Centro Provincial de la Música Adolfo Guzmán, and has composed more than one hundred musical works.

She began her musical training in Santiago de Cuba at the Conservatorios Dulce María Serret, Lauro Fuentes, and Esteban Salas. At the latter, she received a course in harmony and counterpoint with the Orquesta Sinfónica and Música Moderna taught by Professor Feliz.

In 1970, at only 18 years old, she began her career as a composer with several works recorded by Beatriz Márquez and Elena Burke. The orchestra Los Van Van recorded "Pero, ¿qué falta de respeto es esa?", the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and Los Sobrinos del Juez, becoming a great success:

Contestación
Un día increíble
No tengas temor
Dame la mano

At the 1973 Festival del Creador Musical, her work El diapasón was awarded, performed by the orquesta Original de Manzanillo, which soon after recorded it.

In 1973, her song Esta angustia que se crece por decir, performed by Mundito González, was awarded in that year's edition of Creador Musical.

In 1974, she is the musical advisor for the theatrical group Cabildo Santiago, composing music for several stage productions among which Jugando and Mientras más Cerca, Más lejos stood out.

In 1975, she receives a new award from the Festival Nacional del Creador Musical for her work Si supieras todo, which was performed on that occasion by Nancy Maura.

She set to music poems by Cuban writer Mirta Aguirre and with them obtains an Honorable Mention in the Contest La Edad de Oro. In 1979, she receives a special mention from the jury in the Concurso de Música Cubana Adolfo Guzmán for her song Y si acaso.

In 1980, she composes and performs works for Radio Progreso. She works in the humorous program Quien Bien Te Quiere Te hará Reír with actor Edwin Fernández.

In 1982, she founds and directs the Trío D´Capo with which she participates in shows and tours. In 1983, she directs the quartet Armonía 4 in Varadero, sharing the stage with international artists such as Lucecita.

Los Van Van record El Carnicero and it becomes a success.

She composes the music for the Musical Comedy Otra Vez en Mi Calle; stages and advises the comedy De Todo Como En Botica.

In 1987, she is the musical advisor for the Group Los Amigos and for musical comedians such as Moraima Oliva and Lina Ramírez, among others.

She composes the music for the Musical Comedy Los Casos de Verdad by Abraham Rodríguez. She works in the humorous editorial department of Cuban television. She composes the music for the serials Es Susana and La Casa de las Hormigas Locas.

In 1988 and 1989, her compositions Tema para una noche de carnaval and Marianao, color de Cuba obtain first and second prizes respectively in the music contest sponsored by the Carnaval de La Habana.

In 1989, she is the repertorist and composer of the numbers performed by Malena Burke. In 1990, she travels to the Dominican Republic with the Cuarteto D´Capo.

In 1992, she travels to Japan with the show Noche Tropical. She begins working at the Hotel Copa Cabana and in 1993, she travels to France where she offers several successful concerts, travels to Mali (Africa) where she shares the stage with Salif Feita and Ami Caote.

In 1994, she records two videos for TV programs La Mochila and Te Quedarás. She travels to Spain with the Hotel Chain Quitar.

In 1995, she receives second prize in the Concurso Habaneras in La Habana with her work Mulata de rumbo.

At the Festival Boleros de Oro in 1996, her composition Ese espacio wins first prize. In 1996, she signs a contract with the Record Label Caribe Production to record a CD.

She is a member of the Sociedad General de Artistas Españoles (SGAE) and the Sociedad de Autores y Editores Musicales de Francia (SACEM). She directs the Project D´Capito whose objective is to connect children with all artistic manifestations.

In 1996, the event Habaneras en La Habana presents her with the Award granted by the Museo de la Música Cubana, and in the 1997 edition, her work Leyenda Habanera, with verses by poet Olga Navarro, receives an honorable mention in the contest.

For this community project, she obtained first prize in the V Symposium on Cultural Identity in Guanabacoa.

In 2003, she records with the EGREM label the compact disc Una noche en el Gato Tuerto, which captures the versatile musical atmosphere and warm human climate that Alina Torres creates in each of her performances in that exclusive nightclub. This live production brings together some of the songs composed by the artist, with feeling classics, such as Nada son mis brazos and Cosas que pasan, by Ela O'Farrill and Me faltabas tú, by José Antonio Méndez. Sones, guarachas, and authentic treasures of collective memory such as Piel Canela, by Bobby Capó, and Capullito de Alelí, by Rafael Hernández, are not lacking here, finding very personal versions.

In 2014, she was part of the jury for the Concurso Mariana Gonich.
She held a Tribute to Olga Navarro at the Teatro América.
She conducted the Spring Course in Switzerland.

She directed the 5th Edition of the Choral Workshop in Tenerife.
She conducted Ensemble Practice Classes for Secondary Schools in Switzerland. She begins her collaborative work with André Busser and the Bigband "Picazón" from Switzerland.

2015
Gala Tribute Anniversary of Elena Burke, theater hall of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. She was part of the jury for the Mariana Gonich singing contest, La Habana. She appeared in several TV programs.

2016
Tribute to Farah María, Teatro América, La Habana.
Reopening of La Hora Infiel, at the Gato Tuerto. She also performed at El Fabio for a season. Spring Choral Course in Switzerland. Concert at Dampfschiff Kulturclub.
Festival de Boleros 2016, La Habana.
With the Swiss-Cuban project SABOR.CH
Performance in Madrid, at the restaurant La Negra Tomasa.
Cristo de Tacoronte Gala - Tenerife
El Corte Ingles Choral Workshop - Tenerife

Her compositions have been sung by soloists and groups such as: Juan Formell and Los Van Van, Original de Manzanillo, Charanga Habanera, Mundito González, Maggie Carlés, the Coro Folklórico Cubano, Octeto Catarsis, Pupy y los que Son, Anaís Abreu, Haila, Maria Elena Pena, Malena Burke, Raquel Zozaya, and Beatriz Márquez, among others.

Awards and Recognitions

At the 1973 Festival del Creador Musical, her work El diapasón was awarded, performed by the orquesta Original de Manzanillo, which soon after recorded it.

In 1973, her song Esta angustia que se crece por decir, performed by Mundito González, was awarded in that year's edition of Creador Musical.

In 1975, she receives a new award from the Festival Nacional del Creador Musical for her work Si supieras todo, which was performed on that occasion by Nancy Maura.

In 1979, she receives a special mention from the jury in the Concurso de Música Cubana Adolfo Guzmán for her song Y por si acaso.

In 1988 and 1989, her compositions Tema para una noche de carnaval and Marianao, color de Cuba obtain first and second prizes respectively in the music contest sponsored by the Carnaval de La Habana.

In 1993, she receives the important Premio América awarded by Radio Francia Internacional, for her creation Madame Caridad, dedicated to the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, patron saint of Cuba.

In 1995, she receives second prize in the Concurso Habaneras in La Habana with her work Mulata de rumbo.

At the Festival Boleros de Oro in 1996, her composition Ese espacio wins first prize.

In 1996, the event Habaneras en La Habana presents her with the Award granted by the Museo de la Música Cubana, and in the 1997 edition, her work Leyenda Habanera, with verses by poet Olga Navarro, receives an honorable mention in the contest.