The duo Ual-la, from Barcelona (Spain), won the 15th edition of the Andrea Parodi Prize, the prestigious world music contest that took place October 13-15 October at the Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Conservatory in Cagliari.
Ual-la! also won the critics’ prize as well as the best performance of a piece by Andrea Parodi as well as a young artist honorable mention. Ual·la! is a Spanish duo led by Modesto Lai and Alba Rubió that makes fun and innovative a cappella music accompanied by table percussion, a style they call table music.
This year’s edition had a wide international focus. Dutch artist Raquel Kurpershoek won the international jury prize, the Bianca d’Aponte International Award and the honorable mention for the best music, while Spanish act Escarteen Sisters were awarded honorable mentions for performance and arrangement. Sardinians act Balentia won the best lyrics award.
Italian artists Beija Flor (Sicily), Folkatomik (Piedmont), Walter Laureti (Lazio) and Antonio Smiriglia (Sicily) were selected for the final of the contest organized by the Andrea Parodi Foundation under the artistic direction of Elena Ledda.
The overall winner will be entitled to a €2.500 grant, as well as the opportunity to perform in some Parodi partner festivals in 2023, such as the European Jazz Expo (Sardinia) and Folkest (Friuli), as well as in the Andrea Parodi Award itself. The winner will also be able to take advantage of legal and managerial assistance for one year from Siedas.
As winners of the critics’ prize, Ual-la will also have the opportunity to create a professional video clip of a song, produced by the Andrea Parodi Foundation.
For some of the finalists of the Award there will also have the opportunity to be invited to perform at some of the partner festivals (such as Mare e Miniere, Bianca d’Aponte Award, Mo’l’estate Spirit Festival, Musiconnect-Italy).
(headline image: Ual-la! – Photo by Guido Vadilonga)
More information at www.fondazioneandreaparodi.it and www.premioandreaparodi.it
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central