Adolfo Guzman 2024 Competition Heating Up Its Engines

A new edition of the 'Adolfo Guzman' Composition and Performance Contest will be held between September 20 and 22 at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana.

Sponsoring the contest, which has not been held since 2019, are Cuban Radio and Television, the Cuban Institute of Music, the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba and the Hermanos Saíz Association.

Cuban Television's Director of Communications, Cari Rojas, reported that 594 works by 321 authors were received.

"The Guzmán is one of the most renowned musical contests in the country, not only because of its history, but also because great figures of Cuban music have emerged from it," she said.

In this new edition, a pre-selection of works was made in each province to be presented to the jury, chaired by maestro Miguel Paterson, director of the Radio and Television Orchestra, and also integrated by Orlando Bistel, Beatriz Márquez, José Loyola, Guillermo Fragoso, Vania Borges and Milagro de los Ángeles Soto.

The 'Adolfo Guzmán' contest was first held in 1978. This year it will highlight the 65th anniversary of Casa de Las Americas and the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), the centenary of maestro Mario Romeu and the Cuban Culture Day.

Cari Rojas, in charge of the organizing committee and the script, said that "At the proposal of Cuban television, it was decided this year 2024 to make a team work for the artistic direction of the galas.

On this occasion, those in charge of directing each show will be Ana María Rabasa, Orlando Cruzata and Hisandra Maury, who have many years of experience in directing musical works of this type. For the 'Guzmán 2024' unpublished works were presented within the Cuban cancionística in all its variants."

After the jury sessions, 14 finalist themes were selected and during the days of the event the grand prize will be chosen which is to the author. In addition, in order to stimulate the enhancement of the most relevant works, the best orchestration and the best interpretation will be awarded," explained the director of Communication of Cuban Television.

The election of the popularity award will have special characteristics on this occasion, as the public will have several options to vote for the work they like the most.

The Adolfo Guzmán contest, which pays tribute to this outstanding Cuban musician who died on July 30, 1976, has in its history the merit of enriching Cuban songwriting with musical works such as Canción eterna de la juventud, by Marta Valdés, the first winner of the contest; Para Bárbara, Tú eres la música que tengo que cantar, Mujer si la distancia es esa huella, Amar, vivir and Decirte cosas de amor