SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 14th Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The ensembles Sweet Sugar Cane from Havana and the Elderly Citizens Association (AM) along with the Santo Ángel Folklore Group clinched the top awards at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Habaneras Festival, which took place from last Thursday until yesterday, Saturday, in the vicinity of the La Concepción church square in the capital of Tenerife, in celebration of the feast of the Virgen del Carmen. The event gathered a total of twenty-three groups.
Sweet Sugar Cane from Havana emerged victorious in the free group category, while AM Santo Ángel secured the top prize in the elderly group category. Habana Vieja and the Elderly Association of Tegueste took home the second prizes in the free group and elderly group categories respectively.
The accolade for the best original song in the adult and free categories was ultimately bestowed upon the song ‘Longing for Santa Cruz’, delivered by the Alcorán Folk Group. Regarding solo performances, Leyla Melo from the Valbanera Cultural and Musical Association claimed the prize in the free category with the song ‘Everything to Gain’, while in the adult group category, Feliciano Saavedra from the Nijota Cultural Association triumphed with ‘The Hammock’.
The judging panel for the competition consisted of Virginia Guantanamera, a renowned singer; Augusto Francisco Brito Rodríguez, the musical director of the group Tigaray; and Rafael Montes Gómez, an orchestra and opera conductor, as well as a singing instructor at the ‘Laura Alonso’ singing academy. Acting as the secretary, with a voice but no vote, was Cristina Santacreu Ríos, a member of the Autonomous Body of Festivals and Recreational Activities (OAFAR) of the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, accompanied by the Festival Councillor, Javier Caraballero, took to the stage at the La Concepción church square to witness the performances of the participating groups in the third phase of this traditional music gala, organised annually by the Council through the Autonomous Organisation of Festivals (OAFAR).
The Mayor and the Festival representative were responsible for presenting the awards and distinctions to the participants in this edition of the Habaneras Festival, which featured the involvement of 23 musical ensembles, comprising independent groups, elderly groups, and lyrical groups.
The festivities in honour of the Virgin of Carmen, the patron saint of seafarers, will carry on next Tuesday, 16th July, with the observance of the customary procession followed by the symbolic embarkation of the image at the Santa Cruz dock.
