Annual Music Awards, for the preservation of the Dominican national rhythm.
In an official communiqué issued by the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic, the winners of the 2021 Annual Music Awards were announced. This year’s award is dedicated to the outstanding musician and merengue singer, Johnny Ventura, who died on July 28.
Two modalities and five categories make up the contest, which in the classical music category awarded Joel Díaz Suero (symphonic or choral music) for his work Concertino for clarinet and orchestra. The pop, rock or jazz music award went to Manuel Tejada for Caribana.
Likewise, the chamber music prize went to the author of Variaciones sobre un tema de Juan Luis Guerra by the participant with the pseudonym “Juan Luis” and the dance music category was won by “Luis Alberti” for the work Fruta de mi tierra.
Although the folk music award was declared void because no entries were submitted in this category, 49 works participated in this edition and the winners, with unpublished works based on merengue, contributed innovative and valuable melodies to preserve the Dominican national rhythm.
The winners in the different categories will receive a cash prize of RD$250,000 pesos and their works will be broadcast for one year by the orchestras attached to the ministry.
The Annual Music Awards are granted by the Ministry of Culture with the objective of promoting one of the most deeply rooted manifestations of art in the nation and which distinguishes it internationally for its multiple values. In addition, it is a way to stimulate the musical creativity of Dominican artists and according to the Minister of Culture, Milagros German, it is part of the institutional strategies to promote merengue, in order to promote its projection worldwide.
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