Beatriz Márquez and Guido Lopez Gavilan: 2015 National Music Award winners

A jury, composed by the also award winners Digna Guerra (president), Juan Piñera, Adalberto Alvarez, Cesar  Puppy Pedroso and Sergio Vitier—winner of this award last year with Leonardo Acosta—explained their decision based in the importance of both artists’ work for national culture.

The work of all the artists we valued for the award is of prime importance to our music, said the president of the jury, but after intense debates and thorough analysis, we decided to grant the award to Beatriz and Guido for their ample worth.

It was a unanimous decision, Piñera said to the press, and this speaks volumes for the consistency with which we choose. “Everyone gave reasons and we also learned from each other”.

Beatriz Márquez is backed by a long career defending the Cuban song, inside and outside the country, of which she has become one of its greatest exponents. On the other hand, Guido Lopez Gavilan has developed an impressive work as a conductor, composer, educator and as Head of the Music Department of the Association of Cuban Artists and Writers (UNEAC) in the past few years.

The 2015 National Music Award will be presented to the winners during the first three months of 2016 in a special concert, said Orlando Vistel, president of the Cuban Music Institute.

Translation: Cubarte