# Roberto Fonseca and Joaquín Betancourt Awarded at Important International Festivals

**Date:** 08/12/2023

Cuban musicians Roberto Fonseca and Joaquín Betancourt received two important awards this week granted by prestigious international music festivals.

Fonseca received the award from the "Emil Iliev" International Jazz Festival in Bulgaria, "for his contribution to the promotion worldwide of Bulgarian folk music in Jazz versions," according to the event's director, Tatyana Ilieva.

From his Facebook profile, the Cuban pianist expressed being "super happy and grateful to receive this beautiful award" and assured that "it was a Magic night."

According to state press media on the island, for several years, Fonseca has been developing the project "Beyond the Notes," together with the Chorus of New Bulgarian Voices, with which they have performed on different stages in that nation and other European countries.

On the day of the awards ceremony, Roberto Fonseca performed a concert at the Borovets tourist resort that included a varied repertoire with traditional Cuban pieces and previews of what will be his next album 'La Gran Diversión'.

For his part, Maestro Joaquín Betancourt Jackman was the deserving recipient of the International Thomas Shippers Prize for Music and Composition awarded by the Menotti Art Festival in Italy.

A post on social networks from the Cuban Institute of Music notes that the award was given "for the richness and contribution offered to the community in consideration of his moral and human virtues, taking into account his deep commitment to science, culture and the arts."

Betancourt is an orchestra conductor, professor, violinist, orchestrator, composer, music producer and is considered one of the most versatile musicians on the Cuban music scene.

A large part of his work has been dedicated to the training of young instrumentalists, as well as to enhancing Cuban popular music and jazz.

In 2019 he was awarded the National Prize for Music, a recognition also for his work leading his Jazz Band, made up of young and talented musicians from the island.