The Deputy Mayor for Festivities and Carnival, Beatriz Gandullo, along with Mar Díez, head of the Cajasol Foundation in Cádiz, and representatives from the Cádiz Carnival Authors Association, Francis Sevilla Pecci, and the Quarry Association, Mario Rodríguez Parra, announced the staging of this special event.
Now in its third edition, this gala aims to highlight the crucial role of children and young people in the future of Cádiz's iconic festival. More than 40 awards will be presented across the children's and youth categories, honoring the first-prize-winning groups in both divisions.
“"This is already the third edition of an initiative born from this government team's commitment to give space and prominence to the children of the quarry, who are the present but also the future of our festival."
Admission to the event will be by invitation, distributed among the participating youth groups and winners. To ensure broad access, the gala will also be broadcast live by Onda Cádiz Televisión.
The Deputy Mayor also extended her gratitude to the Cajasol Foundation and the Cádiz Carnival Authors Association for their collaboration, noting that the latter was responsible for appointing the jury and selecting the awardees. Representatives from both associations also thanked the Cádiz City Council and Cajasol for supporting initiatives that champion young talent.
The jury, appointed by the Cádiz Carnival Authors Association, consisted of Verónica Prieto Rosales, Ana María Sánchez Cerpa, Ismael Pereira Muñoz, and Jose Antonio Romero Lobón.
Among the awardees in the children's category, Laura Mendoza Romero was recognized as Best Cuartetero/a for the quartet ESCUELA PÚBLICA CAIMÁN. The chirigota LOS PIELES ROJAS DE LA CALETA won for Best Tenor Section and Percussion, while the comparsa EL HILO ROJO received awards for Best Second Section and Guitar Section. Adrián Delgado Merlo from EL HILO ROJO was named Best Contralto, and Manuela Romero Jiménez from LAS GUARNÍAS, Best Performer. Other accolades included Best Costume for the chirigota LAS PELOTERAS, Best Original Idea for the comparsa LAS MARMOTAS, and Best Chorus for LOS PIELES ROJAS. The comparsa LAS MARMOTAS also secured Best Couplet, and LAS GUARNÍAS, Best Lyrics on Quarry Values. Hugo Sánchez Pérez and Hugo Santamaría Moreno were honored for their young authorship in the quartet ACADEMIA DE BAILE JOSELITO Y SUS MODELITOS. The chirigota LA CHIRIGOTA DE LA ISLA received the Best Tuning award, and the quartet ESTO ESTÁ MANGA POR HOMBRO, Best Cuplé. The chirigota VENIMOS DE NUEVO was recognized for Best Popurrí Finale.
Special children's awards included Julia Otero Alba from the comparsa LAS MARMOTAS as Most Charismatic Component, the orchestra of the choir LA PERLA DE CÁDIZ for their brilliant performance, the comparsa LAS GUARNÍAS for Best Popurrí, Guillermo León Jiménez from the comparsa LAS TRAVIESAS for Best Punteado, and the chirigota LOS MAL-ÉLFICOS for the Companionship award.
In the youth category, Aitor Román Díaz from the quartet ESPEJITO, ESPEJITO was named Best Cuartetero/a. The comparsa EL CAMINITO DE VUELTA excelled with Best Tenor Section, Guitar Section, and Costume. The chirigota LAS EUROVISIVAS received awards for Best Second Section and Percussion. María Romero Melero from the comparsa PLAN B was Best Contralto, and Fidel González Macías from the chirigota LOS TÍMIDOS, Best Performer. The comparsa PLAN B was also recognized for Best Original Idea, Best Couplet, and Best Lyrics on Quarry Values. The chirigota EL VIDEOJUEGO won Best Chorus. Sergio Redondo Jiménez from the quartet LOS AUTÉNTICOS CAPUCHINOS received the Young Authorship award. The choir A PICO Y PALA was honored for Best Original Composition. The chirigota LOS DUENDECILLOS DE LOS DOS CASTILLOS won Best Tuning and Best Popurrí Finale, while the quartet LOS CALAÍTOS received Best Cuplé.
Special youth awards went to the orchestra of the choir A PICO Y PALA for their outstanding work, the chirigota UNA CHIRIGOTA ENCANTADORA for the best adaptation of costume to original idea, and the chirigota LOS DUENDECILLOS DE LOS DOS CASTILLOS for Best Linked Popurrí. Finally, Hugo Sánchez Pérez and Hugo Santamaría Moreno received a special award for their commitment to the youth talent.
