The album, recorded and produced in 2011 by Ahmed Dickinson and Hammadi Rencurrell in collaboration with British violinist Emma Blanco, is competing in the Instrumental Music category. A homage to Havana and its famous decadent beauty, the recording is a compilation of beautiful works by Cuban composer Eduardo Martin which exploits the interaction between contemporary Cuban guitar sonorities and well-known musical genres such as Rumba, Danzon, Cha-cha-cha, Changui, Bolero, Timba, amongst others.

The Cubadisco International Fair, founded in 1997 and organized by the Cuban Music Institute, is the most integral event of the Cuban Music Industry and it constitutes the most saught-after platform for exposing the main achievements of Cuban Music. The winners of its 16th edition will be announced in Havana on May 19, 2012.

The Trio Mestizo will bring a taste of the Havana to St Margaret Mary Church. Classical guitarist Ahmed Dickinson, violinist Emma Blanco and dynamic percussionist Hammadi Rencurell Valdes will spice up the venue with the vibrant and diverse music from Cuba and Latin America.

The event, on May 25 at 7.30pm, will be raising funds for repair work projects at the church. Tickets cost £10, which includes an interval drink, and are available from Maggie Raymont on 01489 575375.

Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas and Santiago Quartet will be performing at Ronnie Scott's on September 30th as part of the second Classical Kicks night. More details to follow, but this promises to be an exciting evening with other wonderful guest appearances. Classical Kicks was launched on April 29th this year by Lizzie Ball and the first event was a huge success, with performances from stellar musicians including pianist Tom Gould, baritone Njabulo Madlala and guitarist Morgan Szymanski.

Watch this space for more information on how to purchase tickets and the final line-up.....

www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Ahmed Dickinson's latest recordings The Havana Suite & Latin Perspective have won him two nominations for BEST ARTIST in the Songlines Music Awards 2012. 
The Havana Suite, recorded and co-produced with fellow Cuban musician Hammadi Rencurrell exploits the nuances of the contemporary Cuban guitar.

Latin Perspective, recorded in collaboration with Santiago Quartet is a collection of classical work for guitar and string quartets by prominent South American composers. The Songlines Music Awards endeavours to celebrate and acknowledge the myriad of musical talent across the world that has been featured in Songlines magazine.

Voting for the 2012 Awards is now open in four categories: Best Artist, Best Group, Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Newcomer - to vote for Ahmed please click here and select Best Artist.

Voters will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win one of three pairs of tickets to WOMAD Charlton Park (July 26-29 2012), plus there are 10 runner’s up prizes of the Songlines Music Awards 2011 CD featuring all of last year's winners and nominees.

Aimara Magana Soler is a very fine Cuban oboist based in the UK since 2005. Here she writes her opinions on one of my latest recordings, The Havana Suite. To read the article please click here.