Pianist Frank Fernández, Grand Prize at Cubadisco 2024

May 19, 2024

Pianist and composer Frank Fernández won the top award at the awards gala of the 27th edition of the International Cuban Music Industry Fair Cubadisco, held at the Teatro Martí in the capital.

Emotions and a completely standing auditorium were stirred by the virtuoso upon receiving the Grand Cubadisco Prize for the work Beethoven. Piano Concertos, in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, conducted by maestro Enrique Pérez Mesa.

The work of the 2005 National Music Prize winner also won the category of Concertizing Soloist, Graphic Design for Osmel Lorenzo, and Musicological Notes for Jesús Gómez Cairo.

Another equally moving moment occurred when the diva of the Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her album Vida.

At the evening event, musicologist Sonia Pérez Cassola was also distinguished in the Music Producer Prize category.

Likewise, the Cubadisco Committee decided to award five special honors: Colección Universo Guajiro, Colección 60 Egrem D' Lujo, Orquesta Típica Original de Manzanillo, Colección Colibrí 20 Años, De donde viene el amor, by Pepe Ordás.

In the Research Prize category, the fortunate winners were Ecos y tradiciones isleñas en Cabaiguán, by Los Isleños de Pozas; Herencia, by Fanm Zetwal; Lamento del poeta, recuerdos de la isla de Cuba y las delicias, by Cecilio Tieles.

The Rural Music category was won by poet and improviser Luis Paz "Papillo" for the work No escapes del amor. Meanwhile, in the Debut Album category, Yosander and Agranel merited the award for Aderezo.

In the sections From the Sonera Tradition and Varied Traditional Music, María Victoria Rodríguez and the Orquesta Failde were honored for Que hablen si van a hablar and Danzoneando. Live from Matanzas, respectively.

For his part, Ovidio González's album Cuenta conmigo won the award in the Anthology/Versions category.

Another section honored tonight was Symphonic and Chamber Music, where Estrenando mis 80, by Guido López-Gavilán, won the award, which also won Uncontrolled Sound Design.

The recording Flautas Gigantes, by Orlando "Maraca" Valle, merited the award in the Jazz category, while Tromboneando con Demetrio Muñiz, by the same artist, and Latin Sax, by Cuban Sax Quintet, were distinguished in the Popular Concertizing Music and Instrumental categories, in that order.

Performer Annie Garcés was awarded in the Pop-Fusion section for the album Búscame tú, then the band Toques del Río took the stage to receive the award in Alternative Fusion, thanks to the recording No me formes crisis, and then DJ Riversound&Javik.O, for the album Before I Lose Control in Electronic Music.

Urban music also had its place in the awards gala, here they received their prizes, in the Hip Hop category, Adversario and la Eimi for the production Coge el hilo, and in Reggaeton the duo Charly & Johayron for E.G.O.

In the Audiovisuals area, in the Instrumental Concert section, the winner was pianist José María Vitier for Tentaciones, while in Popular Music Concert and Live Session, the distinguished were Yoyo Ibarra Live, by this artist, and Sesión estudio, by Gretel Cazón.

For his part, in the Musical Documentary category the award was received by Isla de la música. La resistencia, while in Didactic and in Making of were honored Doctor Tambor and Tromboneando con Demetrio Muñiz, respectively.

Alexander Abreu and his orchestra Havana D'Primera merited two awards for the album Pueblo Griffo: Current Dance Music, and Controlled Sound Design, while his compatriot Tony Ávila and his album Univers.o.s earned Joaquín Borges-Triana the award in Record Notes.

Other categories were distinguished: Children's Song, won by Niños del mundo, by the Coro Diminuto directed by teacher Carmen Rosa López; New Trova, won by Univers.o.s by Tony Ávila and his group, Contemporary Song, where El café de los felices, by Vicente Trigo, merited the award; and Song, which awarded Este encuentro. Tributo a René Márquez, by the very musical Beatriz Márquez.

With broad foreign participation and a display of sound traditions, the 27th edition of the International Cuban Music Industry Fair Cubadisco will continue until the 19th with tributes to rural music and Colombia as guest country of honor.