The Cuban Culture Ministry is celebrating the awards granted to the Amadeo Roldán Music School Jazz Band at a US online students’ contest in the US.

The group was recognized in the Outstanding Brass section, while the event also awarded Frank Alejandro Cuni and Elejandra Camila Ramos in the Outstanding Trumpet and Jazz Vocal sections respectively at the Essentially Ellington Virtual International Festival from the Lincoln Center. Other jazz band members obtained honorable mentions, such as Jonathan Vicente García in piano; Stephanie William Fernández in clarinet; Gabriela Muriedas in soprano sax and Brian Arencibia in alto sax.   

Cuba has a strong and free artistic teaching system based on the development of talent, regardless of the student’s walk of life, color of the skin, religion or any other consideration. Washington’s over 60 year stranglehold of Cuba has prevented Cuba from purchasing musical instruments, parts and other supplies for artistic teaching, but hasn’t blocked the creativity and love of art by the talents in training.