Diversity and color characterize the selection of voices that will soon participate in the San Remo Music Awards Festival, in Havana. From East to West, young people who see here an opportunity to show their talents, families who have spent their lives supporting them, people who love music and have decided to go all out for their passion.
Cuba Si shares today the stories of three of the finalists.
Ana Mariam’s goal: to reach the hearts of those who listen to her
Ana Mariam Puentes arrives from Pinar del Río and celebrates the luck of being present at this event:
«Our country is full of excellent musicians, excellent singers who have not yet been discovered, and being part of the 16 chosen is already more than enough merit. Of so many people who showed up, who sent their videos in the midst of a pandemic, being among the finalists is already a prize for me. Music has always been my forte, it has always caught my attention, and I wanted to exploit a little this gift that life has given me, because I did not study in any school, I am not a graduate, I am empirical. I don’t regret any of the decisions I’ve made about directing my life towards music, because it has really brought me a lot of satisfaction.
Much to be thankful for, he assures: «María Elena Lazo, Alberto Reina, Nancy Estefanía, in terms of acknowledgments about my artistic life. Above all, María Elena Lazo, who helped me a lot in my journey through the Sonando en Cuba contest. I have to thank my mother very much, who has always been by my side at all times, my faithful admirer, my number one, who with her support, her perseverance and her example, has not let me give up on this task that all of us artists have. continue to grow day by day.
«I always say that my fundamental goal is to be able to reach the hearts of all the people who listen to me. My goal is not to be famous, it is not to be recognized by everyone, but that those who know me take within them that sentimental part that I try to convey, “said the young singer.
Hannibal: «I only expect good things from San Remo»
Aníbal Ramos sent his video to the pages of the San Remo Music Awards with the theme The mountain, by the Spanish composer Augusto. This art instructor and radio host was among the finalists.
Regarding his daily life, he commented on what happens between the classes, the radio station and the artistic units he attends: «at night, the rehearsal with the Cantores Claudio Monteverde male choir, which is my artistic unit par excellence, is the one I work with daily, it is my musical work, choral. When I am at home, it is the space to share with my parents, who are the ones who are always with me, and the boys in the choir are also part of my family, my house is always full of boys…»
Regarding his musical preferences, he commented: «I am fascinated by jazz, I am a lover of bolero, I love traditional Cuban music in all its aspects and, of course, I love choral music. I am a collector of vinyl records and also phonograph players. Perhaps that is why I have that affinity for this type of music, because my parents instilled in me a love for traditional music from an early age».
Even after overcoming the nervousness caused by the news that he was selected, Aníbal confesses: «I couldn’t say for sure what I expect from San Remo, but I only expect good things».
Diana: “enjoy this event as I am going to”
Diana Enrique Olivero is currently studying at ISA, but her beginnings in art are lost among childhood memories. This is her story:
«I do not have a specific date for when I started in everything related to music, but I do remember an anecdote that my mother always tells me, which was when I began to relate to all the projects of the House of Culture: my mother puts me in ballet classes, I was a chubby girl, who couldn’t be in ballet precisely, so a teacher that I love with all my life, named Maisel, took me out of the ballet classes and told me: this girl has to be musician, he has to be a singer, and from then on he took me by the hand and we started that career together.
«I came to the Higher Institute of Art precisely after spending a season in Santiago de Cuba, where I studied Bassoon at the Esteban Salas Conservatory. I was working with the Oriente Symphony and came to Havana to study at the University. I’m in third year, specifically. I decided on Bassoon because it is the career I have been studying for many years now, since I was very little, and here I am enjoying it until I can graduate».
About the song that he performed in the San Remo Music Awards, he said: “it is very beautiful, it is part of the repertoire of the Buena Fe group, the composer is Israel Rojas and his name is I am what you see. It is a song that speaks a lot about identity, about who I am, and with that same energy is the one with which I intend to interpret it».
She also feels that she should thank: «In the first instance, I would like to thank my family, who has been very attentive to my career. My first thanks go to my parents and grandparents, who have always given everything to keep me going. Also to my teacher Maisel, who was the one who trained me from a very young age; to the guys from La Colmenita, to its director Turro, this project that came up in Moa, of which I am no longer a part, because I am already quite old, but it is a very loving project, which I have a lot of affection for, where I started my career . I thank all my colleagues at the University, all my friends for being aware of my career, and I hope you enjoy this event as I am going to.”
