COMPETITIONS

JOAQUÍN RODRIGO INTERNATIONAL GUITARMARKER'S COMPETITION IN ARANJUEZ
Winner : Manuel Contreras Segundo

The first event marking the Centenary of the birth of Joaquín Rodrigo was a brilliant and original one: a competition of guitars created by the best guitarmakers in the world to honor the composer who made the greatest contribution to distinguish the guitar as a concert instrument.

The competition, sponsored by the Victoria and Joaquín Rodrigo Foundation together with the City Council of Aranjuez, took place from November 7 to 15, 2000. It was inaugurated with the exhibit of all the participating guitars which was held in the Isabel de Farnesio Cultural Center in Aranjuez. There were 32 instruments in all, from the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Belgium, Australia, Italy, Malaysia and Spain.

 

 


Photograph of the guitar exhibit in the Isabel de Farnesio Cultural Center, Aranjuez


The prize. The winning instrument was baptized "Joaquín Rodrigo" from the moment the jury announced its decision, and as its prize, it will be be a centerpiece in the Joaquín Rodrigo Centenary exhibit which will tour Spain in 2001, together with the composer’s documents and most treasured possessions, including the manuscript of Concierto de Aranjuez. At the end of the Centenary year, an important concert paying tribute to Rodrigo will take place in the Gardens of the Palace of Aranjuez on September 9, 2001, where the best guitarists of the day will perform three of Rodrigo’s guitar concertos: Concierto Andaluz, Concierto Madrigal, and Concierto de Aranjuez.

 

From left to right, José María Cepeda, Mayor of Aranjuez, Cecilia Rodrigo, Manuel Contreras Segundo, the winner, holding his guitar.
Photograph of the judges. Left to right, José María Lozano, José María Gallardo, Carlos Trepat, Roma Escalas and Victor Monge.


The jury, composed of the eminent guitarists José María Gallardo, Carlos Trepat and Victor Monge, Serranito, and the guitarmaker José María Lozano, and Roma Escalas Llimona, director of the Museum of Music in Barcelona, chose the guitar most outstanding for its sound and its beauty.

The jury’s decisión. In the opinion of the jury, the winning instrument, made by Manuel Contreras Segundo, was not only outstanding for its sound and its beauty, but presented the best qualities for a performance, with the necessary projection, at the open-air concert with orchestra that will take place in the Gardens of Aranjuez and will be one of the crowning act s in the Centenary year.

 
 

Photograph of the winning guitar, made by Manuel Contreras Segundo. .