The third edition of the Ciudad de La Laguna International Pulled String Festival (FICUP) kicks off on 1 July and runs until 8 July, featuring eight concerts by 15 different musicians across five venues in the city.
Supported by the City Council’s Culture Department and the CajaCanarias Foundation, this year’s festival will take place in Casa Anchieta, Casa-Museo de Los Sabandeños, Teatro Leal, Fundación Cristino de Vera, and the crystal hall of the old Convent of Santo Domingo.
The festival will begin with a performance by timple player David Duque and pianist Ernesto Alemán in the crystal hall at Santo Domingo. During this recital, newly awarded compositions from last year’s competition, by Jonás García and Celia Rivero, will be premiered by violist Macarena Pesutic and clarinettist Francisco Suárez.
On 2 July, David Ballesteros (viola) and Luis Alejandro García (guitar) will perform at Fundación Cristino de Vera. The following day, tiorbist Nacho Laguna will explore the works of 17th-century Italian composer Giovanni Pittoni Ferrarese.
The Teatro Leal will host Italian guitarist Carlo Marchione on 4 July, where the III Youth Timple, Guitar and Composition Competition winners will also be announced. On 5 July, singer Marta Heras and guitarist Sara Guerrero will perform at Santo Domingo, followed by last year’s youth competition winners, timple player Gael Borges and guitarist Vasilina Shashkova, on 6 July.
On 7 July, timple player Derque Martín and guitarist Nicolás Mendoza will perform at Fundación Cristino de Vera, with the festival concluding on 8 July at Teatro Leal, featuring timple player Germán López alongside guitarist Antonio Toledo. All concerts start at 19:30.
This year, FICUP will also offer a wide range of educational opportunities, including masterclasses in guitar, timple, and early music, alongside workshops on improvisation and lutherie. Renowned guitarists Carlo Marchione, Francisco Bernier, Sara Guerrero, and Luis Alejandro García will lead masterclasses for both beginners and advanced students. Canarian musicians Germán López, Derque Martín, and David Duque will oversee timple classes, with Nacho Laguna conducting masterclasses in early music for all levels.
In addition, various workshops will be offered, including one on improvisation by Antonio Toledo and another titled “Study Better, Play Better: Keys to Advancing on Guitar” led by Francisco Bernier.
