Competition
National
of Music

Sponsored by the FAJ and UNICEF Cuba, the initiative is aimed at musicians in formal or informal training (artistic education or self-taught), of Cuban nationality, residing in Cuba, with the objective of promoting creative processes that favor the spiritual growth, creativity and expression of adolescents, as well as generating a positive impact on artistic and professional training on the island.

First Edition

September began with a musical challenge. The news spread quickly through WhatsApp groups, on the recommendation of teachers, students, close friends and press media in various provinces of Cuba. The Fondo de Arte Joven (FAJ) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Cuba were calling adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the first edition of the National Music Contest.

This initiative greeted the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and although it was the first collaboration between FAJ and UNICEF, it already had its antecedents in the 1990s. At that time, pianist and composer Ernán López-Nussa, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, carried out artistic exchanges and concerts with children from Cuban schools, who are now important exponents of Cuban music.

This particular experience extended the call to musicians in training, from artistic education or self-taught, who competed with a video showing their performance, as a soloist, of one or more musical works of their choice. Complete works, movements of works, new creations, songs or improvisations were admitted.

The jury was composed of renowned national and international musicians, such as Marcos Madrigal, president of the Habana Clásica Cultural Association and partner and manager of FAJ's music profile; violinist and deputy artistic director of the Habana Clásica International Festival, Lissy Abreu; Daiana García, chief conductor of the Havana Chamber Orchestra; Alessandro Stella, record producer, founder of Extended Place, and member of the Havana Chamber Orchestra; Alessandro Stella, record producer, founder of Extended Place, and member of the Havana Chamber Orchestra. Recording Academy and the Latin Recording Academy, and wind multi-instrumentalist, musical director and pedagogue, Janio Abreu.

The application was made through the online Application Form on the FAJ website. At the close of the call, a total of 58 proposals were received, and after the jury's evaluation, 18 contestants advanced to the final phase of the competition.

Three prizes were awarded for each category in competition: A (12-14 years old); B (15-16 years old) and C (17-18 years old). The first and second place winners in each category (with an accompanying adult) participated in a one-week creative exchange program in Havana.

During this time, the young musicians participated in an extensive schedule of activities that included rehearsal sessions, master classes given by renowned Cuban musicians committed to children and UNICEF Cuba goodwill ambassadors. They also took part in creative exchanges with young beneficiaries who were winners of FAJ's calls for proposals and visited cultural spaces..

To close with a flourish, the experience concluded with a presentation at the Theater Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts, where seven talented teenagers from various schools and provinces of the country under the tutelage of multi-instrumentalist Janio Abreu and accompanied by outstanding musicians such as Ernán López - Nussa, Dayramir González, Rafael Iniciarte Jr. and the Op. 5 Flute Ensemble.

For the first time these promising musicians gathered on stage to perform a virtuoso repertoire that included works by great figures of Cuban and world music, such as Ignacio Cervantes, José María Vitier, Aldo López Gavilán, Alejandro (Coqui) Calzadilla, Astor Piazzolla, Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, Ernán López - Nussa and Janio Abreu, among others.

The audience enjoyed the versatility of Ronny, Alessa, Elias, Laura, Jose Angel and Rafael, who also shone with their skills on other instruments in a display of unparalleled creativity and skill.

With almost two years of existence, the FAJ has had culturally committed allies, which has been essential to promote culture and creativity in the new generations of artists. The National Music Competition with UNICEF Cuba joins this list of collaborations, reaffirming the platform's objectives of establishing alliances and synergies with organizations, projects and institutions that share common goals.