Pepe Romero Receives the International Alhambra Award
The Malagan guitarist Pepe Romero has been honored with the International Alhambra Award, an accolade bestowed by the Alhambra Guitar Foundation to celebrate exceptional careers and lasting influence in the world of classical guitar. Romero’s lifelong devotion to the instrument and his influential contributions to Latin and European guitar traditions are recognized with this distinguished honor.
Born in Malaga in 1944, Pepe Romero is widely regarded as one of the most important Spanish guitarists of his generation. He belongs to the renowned family of guitarists known as the Royal Guitar Family: Los Romeros, a designation frequently cited by major publications such as the New York Times. Romero began performing at the age of seven and has maintained a public presence on stages around the world ever since. With a prolific recording career featuring over 70 albums, he has enriched classical guitar literature with a steady stream of interpretations across diverse repertoires. His concert schedule spans continents, ranging from solo performances to appearances with acclaimed orchestras, often under the baton of esteemed conductors. Romero’s collaborations with celebrated composers have yielded commissioned works and enduring guitar masterpieces, underscoring his role as a bridge between contemporary creation and traditional technique. At 78 years old, he continues to teach while maintaining an active tour calendar, including frequent engagements in the United States where he maintains a residence.
Displaying the humility that often accompanies true genius, Romero gratefully accepted the 1st International Alhambra Award, adding another landmark to a career already rich with distinction. The gesture reflects a broader respect for his artistry within the global guitar community.
The award ceremony took place during a concert in Ankara on a Friday evening, as part of the Pepe Romero Guitar Festival in Malaga. This festival brings together prominent figures from the Spanish guitar scene in Andalusia and is supported by the Alhambra Guitars Foundation. The event highlights both the historical legacy and ongoing vitality of Spanish guitar culture, connecting artists, audiences, and institutions across borders.
Festival director Vincent Bays presented the award, while the presenting team also included José Luis Ruiz del Puerto, the general manager of Alhambra Guitars, and Valeria Torregrosa, director of the Alhambra Guitar Foundation, alongside guitarist Rafael Aguirre. After expressions of appreciation for Romero’s extraordinary artistic career, the award was formally conferred to the artist by Aguirre. The moment stood as a tribute to decades of influential performances and pedagogical contributions that continue to shape new generations of players.
The Alhambra International Awards were created to recognize and honor the finest performers and composers in the Spanish guitar world. This initiative advances the foundation’s mission to promote classical guitar on a global scale, supporting performances, education, and cultural exchange that enrich audiences everywhere.
Alhambra Guitars has produced instruments and nurtured guitar culture for more than half a century. In recent years, the company expanded its cultural footprint by founding the Alhambra Guitars Foundation, consolidating efforts to support, promote, and disseminate the Spanish guitar across the globe. The foundation leads multiple initiatives, including international guitar competitions such as CIGA and CIGA Junior, festival sponsorships like the Pepe Romero Guitar Festival in Malaga, and the commissioning and publication of new works. It also collaborates with institutions, lends guitars for concerts, and runs programs to assist those facing social challenges.
Through these activities, the Alhambra International Award continues to play a central role in highlighting performers and composers who push the instrument forward, while fostering a worldwide community of guitar lovers and practitioners. The ongoing partnership between artist, organizers, and instrument makers reinforces a shared commitment to education, artistry, and enduring musical excellence.
In this way, Pepe Romero’s recognition with the International Alhambra Award serves both as a personal accolade and as a signal of the ongoing vitality of the Spanish guitar tradition. The award, now part of a broader festival and initiative, helps showcase the instrument’s rich history and its vibrant contemporary scene, inviting new audiences to discover the expressive power and technical mastery of the guitar. Attribution: Alhambra Guitars Foundation archives and festival program notes.