HE ADD will host Thursday, January 18 a new edition of the Sois Music Culture Awards, an initiative supported by the Alicante Provincial Council and the ADDA Foundation. The awards recognize the dedication and progress of organizations and professionals who advance the province’s musical culture and strengthen social, educational, and cultural values across the region. The event underscores a commitment to community enrichment through music and the arts, highlighting how cultural activity can energize local identities and foster inclusive participation.
Cultural Deputy Juan de Dios Navarro presents the winners across the four categories designated for this second edition. The awards celebrate a wide range of contributions: the Performer of Ancient Music prize goes to Pere Estevan, lauded for his long-standing musical career and for receiving the Óscar Esplá Special Award for his artistic achievements; the award for a social and pedagogical musical project goes to Jesús Mula for his work linked to the February Music Festival and the National Music Performance Competition Villa de Cox, praised for a solid social mission that uses performance as a platform to inspire young musicians.
Another honor, the Amando Blanquer Award for Innovation, Creation, and Originality in Music, will be given to the organizer Josep Vicent Giner Reus. The jury notes his restless energy as a concert pianist and his commitment to expanding the repertoire with fresh, engaging programs through the various festivals and competitions he organizes, enriching the cultural landscape for audiences and artists alike in the region.
Finally, the Rodríguez Albert Award for Dissemination, Promotion, and Recovery of Alicante’s Musical Heritage will be presented to Xafigà. The Provincial Head of Culture emphasizes that this group of dolçainers recently marked forty years of activity, dedicating themselves to sharing Alicante’s popular culture through multidisciplinary performances and their own productions, thereby honoring the dulzaina as a traditional, enduring instrument and a living part of local identity. The award ceremony will reflect the harmony between tradition and contemporary interpretation, reinforcing the province’s cultural storytelling through music.
A performance is slated for the delivery ceremony featuring the Adda Orchestra-Symphonic, conducted by Josep Vicent, with a program opening the curtain on Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. The lineup also includes Hi d’amour by Edward Elgar, Romanian Folk Dances by Béla Bartók, Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone, and Uncle Pep, a beloved Alicante song performed by the Xafigà group as they receive their awards. The evening will be a testament to how regional ensembles connect classical heritage with modern artistry, inviting audiences to experience music as a shared cultural journey across generations.
The Sois Music Culture Awards jury comprises notable figures who guide the evaluation process and uphold the standards of excellence. In addition to the president, Juan de Dios Navarro, the roster includes Jaume Gavilan, the ADDA Artistic Content broker; Francisco Mestre, ADDA’s Mayor Responsible for Artistic Production; Jesus Maria Gomez, a piano professor at the Óscar Esplá Superior Conservatory of Music in Alicante; Vicente Ballester, an international guitar soloist; and María José Argudo, the director of the Provincial Council’s Culture area who serves as secretary. The diverse panel reflects a broad spectrum of expertise, ensuring a thoughtful and comprehensive recognition of achievement within Alicante’s musical community. [Citation: ADDA Foundation]