The future singers of Matanzas: Duendecillos de los Puentes award-winners.
The Children’s Vocal Performance Festival Duendecillos de los Puentes was a great musical party in Matanzas, where the People’s Councils, promoters and art instructors participated with their students, in search of the beautiful voices that will enliven in the future the cultural life of Matanzas and its communities.
Prizes and mentions in three categories were awarded by the jury in the contest held for three days at the Sauto Theater, National Monument, in honor of the 330th anniversary of the foundation of the city of Matanzas and the 45th anniversary of the Casas de Cultura system.
The jury was integrated by relevant musicians from Matanzas, members of UNEAC: Gabriel Suárez Aljovín, president, plus Rosaida Pita Molina, Reynaldo Montalvo Carreras, Orlando Pérez Casuso and Luis Mil Guzmán Zayas-Bazán, who valued as competitive the indicators of diction, intonation and interpretation in the 17 children and teenagers contestants.
In the 4 to 8 years old category, first prize was awarded to Lorena López García, who also won the Popularity award, as well as second prize to Patricio Rodríguez Rodríguez and third prize to Rocío Batista González, while Liana Águila and Kenely Azurmendy received honorable mentions.
In the 9 to 11 years old category, first place went to Dianelys Tápanes Crespo, second to Samantha Suárez Calunga and third to Anyelina Campes Pérez. The mentions went to Keyla Boffil Sevillano, Dianet Matos Castillo, Yosaina Vega Fajardo and Darian Matos Guevara.
As for the teenagers, they were grouped in the 12 to 15 years old category. First place went to Angelis González Méndez, second to Liana González Rodríguez and third to Milena Quesada Vega. Sthefany Alonso Albelo received a mention.
The participation of the choir Armonía and the projects Maravillas de la Infancia, Corcel de Esperanza, Cultivador de Sueños and the Academia de Ballet Español Donaire was noteworthy.
The Por amor a mi Raíz project, the Alas y Raíces artistic unit, together with the José Martí Brigade, Gabi y Sofi and the Abrakadabra musical theater company, sponsored by the Bonifacio Byrne Cultural Center, also took part in the event.
Thanks to the active collaboration of promoter Vladimir Pérez Padrón, we learned that collateral prizes were also awarded for the projects Local Development Quinta Anita, Mi corazón toca tu puerta, Galería Corazones, Tiernu rumis, Corazón Guamacaro Km 9 and Tocororo.
The writers Yenisbel Martel and Cecilia Soto, the presidencies of UNEAC and ACAA, the Gener and Del Monte libraries, the Pharmaceutical Museum, the Maternal Home, ARTEX Matanzas, FigurArte, the José Martí Cultural Society and other important personalities also collaborated.
According to those present, the hard work of the months leading up to the festival deserved the greatest recognition, as the show and the quality of the children’s voices won the greatest applause.
