San Cristóbal de La Laguna Hosts Third Annual Ficup Festival
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is hosting the third annual Ficup festival, a week-long celebration of plucked string music featuring high-level concerts, educational workshops, and competitions at historic venues across the city.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is once again the heart of plucked string music as it hosts the third annual Ficup festival. Supported by the local Department of Culture and the CajaCanarias Foundation, the festival runs until July 8, featuring a blend of high-level concerts and educational workshops. Performances will take place at several historic venues, including the Leal Theatre, Casa Anchieta, the Cristino de Vera Foundation, the Los Sabandeños House-Museum, and the former Convent of Santo Domingo.
The festival kicks off this Wednesday at the Convent of Santo Domingo with a recital by David Duque and Ernesto Alemán, featuring winning pieces from last year’s composition contest performed by Macarena Pesutic and Francisco Suárez. The program continues Thursday at the Cristino de Vera Foundation with David Ballesteros and Luis Alejandro García, followed by Nacho Laguna on Friday. On Saturday the 4th, the Leal Theatre will host a performance by Carlo Marchione and the awards ceremony for the 3rd Youth Timple, Guitar, and Composition Contest. The festival concludes with performances by Marta Heras and Sara Guerrero (Sunday), Gael Borges and Vasilina Shashkova (Monday), Derque Martín and Nicolás Mendoza (Tuesday), and a final show by Germán López and Antonio Toledo on Wednesday the 8th.
Beyond the stage, Ficup emphasizes education. The festival includes masterclasses on topics ranging from early music to lutherie, led by experts such as Francisco Bernier, Sara Guerrero, Luis Alejandro García, Germán López, Derque Martín, David Duque, and Nacho Laguna. Specialized workshops on improvisation and study techniques, along with an instrument fair, aim to support the professional music community.
These initiatives are vital for preserving instruments like the timple and encouraging collaboration between established artists and young talent. For registration and the full schedule, visitors can check the festival’s official website and social media channels.