Alicante holds a special place for Manuel Barrueco. The Cuban-born guitarist, now based in the United States, describes it as a place that has given him strong support, and he cherishes the friendships he has there. He regards receiving this award as both an honor and a pleasure.
The award itself is a sculpture in brass, shaped like a guitarist, created by the sculptor Miguel Banuls and presented through the Spanish Guitar Art Association. Its purpose is to acknowledge and thank the most outstanding international guitarists who have contributed to the Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance in Alicante. This year, Alicante marks its tenth edition, with 116 students from 40 different countries participating in the program.
The collaboration with baroque pearl and the annual involvement of Barrueco as a teacher further connect this Master to its founder’s spirit. Alicante’s own Ignatius Rhodes highlights Barrueco’s dedication and the meaningful involvement of the entire team, the association’s president, and the Master’s academic director. The Vice President of the association even notes that the award represents both art and heart.
Manuel Barrueco, born in Santiago de Cuba in 1952, is widely recognized as one of the era’s most influential guitarists. His discography includes numerous recordings for EMI and Tonar Music, and he has performed as a soloist with major ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He currently teaches at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, affiliated with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
The award ceremony was marked by Barrueco’s remarks about Alicante, where he noted the presence of many talented students and the joy of engaging with them. He emphasized that while a concert can share music, teaching offers a lasting chance to shape the performers of tomorrow. He recalled his early performances with the Alicante Concert Ensemble and stressed the importance of Alicante’s strong guitar culture. He added that he feels surrounded by friends there and views the city as a place that deeply supports the guitar on an international level.
When speaking about his relationship with the guitar, Barrueco described it as a lifelong love. He explained that one does not choose who to fall in love with, and his passion for the instrument has endured since childhood. He remarked on the beauty found in many aspects of music, including voice and repertoire, and reflected on the ongoing journey of discovering new ways to play the guitar, even at the age of 69.
Cultural consultant Anthony Manresa noted that Alicante City Council expressed admiration for Barrueco, calling him a universal instrumentalist and praising his mastery, graceful musicality, and expressive vocal quality. He added that Barrueco’s teaching offers a clear path for younger players and that it is a privilege to consider him a world ambassador for Alicante’s Guitar Master program.
Rodes recalls hearing Barrueco’s interpretations of works by Albéniz and Villalobos for the first time in 1981 via a cassette, followed by a live Paris concert that demonstrated the same magic. He described Barrueco as a catalyst for a new musical approach to guitar repertoire, noting the instrument’s serious and consistent influence on generations of players and calling Barrueco’s impact a turning point in recent guitar history.
The event also featured a mini-concert by four students from the current Master edition: Anatacio Enríquez, Brandon García, Arturo Vera, and Andrew Stevenson, who performed pieces by Grays and Suns and by Argentina’s Maximo Diego Pujol.