The outstanding Cuban musician Chucho Valdés He obtained on Monday night in the United States the Leonard Bernstein Grand “For the elevation of music in society.”
As announced on its social networks, the award received it from the president of the Longy School of Music, Karen Zorn, and Jamie Bernstein, daughter of the outstanding composer and American orchestra director.
“I am happy because tonight I just received the Leonard Bernstein Grand Prix for the elevation of music in society, it has been a wonderful evening,” wrote the Cuban pianist.
For its part, the Longy School of Music highlighted Chucho Valdés as “the most influential figure of modern Afro -Cuban jazz” and praised the prolific career of the Cuban musician for more than 60 years.
“Valdés has distilled elements of the Afro -Cuban musical tradition, jazz, classical music, rock and more, in a deeply personal style,” said the US educational center in his website.
He also added that “Valdés embodies many of the key values cultivated in Longy, including the freedom to explore, creative thinking and innovation, and the joy of making and sharing music with others.”
Longy also highlighted the unique style of Chucho Valdés, who has merged Afro -Cuban music with the classic, jazz, rock and other genres.
Leonard Bernstein Award for Chucho’s work
Deserving of numerous Grammy and Latin Grammy awardsAward for Musical Excellence of the Latin Academy of Recording and Member of the Hall of Fame of Latin Cantautators, Chucho Valdés is one of the most recognized Cuban musicians internationally.
Born in 1941 in a musical family, his father Ramón – Pianist, composer and orchestra director – was his first teacher.
At 14 he graduated from the Municipal Conservatory of Music of Havana and in 1959 he began his professional career as a member of the emblematic Taste Orchestra of Cuba, considered one of the most important in the history of modern Cuban music.
In 2023, another Cuban, Paquito D’Antra received the same award, destined to highlight artists who continue to promote and strengthen the role of music in society.
