63rd Cante de las Minas Announces Semifinalists

The 63rd edition of the International Festival of Cante de las Minas in La Unión, Spain, is set to host the world’s most prestigious flamenco competition. The jury has unanimously selected the semifinalists for the singing, guitar, dance, and instrumental categories, highlighting a strong Andalusian presence and increased international participation.

Singing Category

Ten semifinalists, 90% from Andalusia, will compete for the ‘Lámpara Minera’:

• Gregorio Moya Lara (Ciudad Real): minera, malagueña, siguiriya, tientos
• Francisco Javier Heredia Hernández (Jaén): minera, taranta, malagueña, soleá
• Jesús Corbacho Vázquez (Huelva): minera, taranta, malagueña, guajira
• Iván González Carpio (Sevilla): minera, cartagenera, malagueña, siguiriya
• Antonio José Nieto Fernández (Córdoba): minera, taranta, malagueña, soleá
• Ana Isabel Rodríguez Rosado (Sevilla): minera, cartagenera, malagueña
• José Plantón Heredia (Córdoba): taranto, soleá, petenera
• María Ángeles Fernández Martín (Granada): levantica, alegrías
• Andrés Amador Giménez (Almería): taranto, siguiriya
• José Antonio Romero (Cádiz): alegrías

Guitar Category

Semifinalists for the ‘Bordón Minero’:

• Mercedes del Rocío Sanguiao Horneros (Lorca)
• Jesús Carbonell Jiménez (Navarra)
• Jonatan Giménez García (Madrid)
• Marcos Gago Pino (Cádiz)

Dance Category

Five dancers will compete in the semifinals:

• María Vázquez Aguilar (Huelva)
• Junko Hagiwara (Kawasaki, Japan)
• Clara María Gutiérrez Casado (Córdoba)
• Laura Santamaría Busonera (Nice, France)
• Irene Ruiz Morales (Granada)

No male contestants will compete in the ‘Desplante’ category this year.

Instrumental Category

Four semifinalists will vie for the ‘Filón’ prize:

• Olle Pelayo Lind (Sweden): harmonica
• María de Gracia Saz Román (Sevilla): violin
• Juan Lorenzo Moya Maleno (Ciudad Real): piano
• José Luis López Hernández (Madrid): cello

Event Schedule

Semifinals will be held on August 7, 8, and 9, with the grand final on August 10, 2024 at the Old Public Market.

Organizers and Sponsors

The festival is organized by the Fundación Cante de las Minas, supported by the La Unión City Council, the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, the Institute of Cultural Industries (ICA), Costa Cálida Region of Murcia, and the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music of the Ministry of Culture. Sponsors include La Verdad, La7, Repsol, So-La-Na Entertainment, Grupo Elsamex, Fundación CajaMurcia, Caixabank, Grupo Avanza Servicios, Acciona, El Águila, Cajamar, Inmesur Levante, Tecsumaga, and Suministros Mayor.