Esther Merino Wins the ‘Lámpara Minera’, Top Flamenco Award

The highly prestigious ‘Lámpara Minera’ was awarded to singer Esther Merino Pilo, from Extremadura. This is the most important flamenco award in Spain. In addition to the ‘Lámpara’, Esther Merino Pilo also won in the soleá, taranta, minera and cartagenera categories. The award ceremony was held August 6, 2022, at the Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas in La Unión (Murcia, Spain).

Dance Awards

The taranto was the ruling dance of the night. David Romero Cardoso (Barcelona) won the male ‘Desplante’ dance award. Meanwhile, Miami-based Irene Lozano Ruiz (Malaga) won the female dance award.  

Guitar award

In the guitar performance category, the ‘Bordón Minero’ award was given to Álvaro Mora Domínguez (Huelva), who performed taranta and soleá,

Flamenco instrumentation

Violinist Ángel Bocanegara Ocón (Granada) won the ‘Filón’ award with his Levante and tangos performances.

Special Prize for Young Singers

Lucía Beltrán Sedano (Huelva), an 18-year-old singer performed Levante and Toná genres. The prize for young singers is endowed with 1,500 euros,

Other winners

Isabel Guerrero Alarcón (Malaga) won the Group ‘C’ Prize with her tangos por ‘bulerías, cantiñas, tangos, tientos, peteneras, farrucas, and personal fandangos.

Manuel Cuevas González (Seville) won the Group II of Songs from Málaga, Córdoba, Granada, and Huelva Prize by performing Malagueñas. Virginia Gámez Gil (Malaga) won the Prize for other songs within this group for its media granaína.

Finally, José Plantón Heredia won the Group ‘A’ Award for ‘tonás, seguiriyas, livianas y serranas’ with his seguiriya.