Young singers Martina Pérez and Julia Fernández-Llébrez, winners of ‘Estepona CREA’24’.

The final of the Contest, endowed with 10,000 euros, was held last Saturday at the Felipe VI Auditorium. This year the contest has awarded prizes to amateur singers under 35 years of age for children and youth categories.

The Estepona City Council reports that the young interpreters of the song Martina Perez and Julia Fernandez-Llebrez, have won the first prize, in children and youth category, respectively, of the X Contest “Estepona CREA”, which this year has been dedicated to the modality of Voice.

During the final gala, held on Saturday at the Felipe VI Auditorium, each of the six finalists performed two songs live. Once the performances were over, the jury’s decision was announced and the ‘X Estepona Crea 2024’ awards were presented to the winners of the contest.

The jury was chaired by the Councillor for Festivities, Macarena Diánez, acting as members David Gary, baritone; Rocío Bazán, singer; and Hugo Toscano, singer, all of them people of recognized professional and artistic prestige in the national and international scene and with links to the city of Estepona.

This year an economic endowment of 10,000 euros has been established, to be distributed as follows, for each of the categories:

Children:

1st prize, endowed with 2,500 €: Martina Pérez

2nd prize, endowed with 1,500 €: Nayeli Ruiz

3rd prize, endowed with 1.000 €: Mariia Koretska

Juvenile:

1st prize of 2,500 €: Julia Fernández-Llébrez

2nd prize, endowed with 1,500 €: Irene Fusco

3rd prize, endowed with 1.000 €: Mireia Rondón

In addition to the cash prize, each of the first prize winners received a sculpture of the Venus of Estepona, sculpted by local artist Juan Miguel Quiñones.

The ‘Estepona Crea’ Contest was launched in 2015 with the aim of promoting and encouraging culture and art among young people in the city. On a cyclical basis, different modalities have been established: the first year, Painting and Dance; in 2016 the modalities of Music and Literature were awarded; in 2017, Theater and Photography; in 2018, Audiovisual Creation and Sculpture; in 2019, Audiovisual Creation and Sculpture.

Audiovisual and Sculpture; in 2019 and 2020, special Estepona Crea Kids contest, dance and voice, and dance, respectively; in 2021, Composition for Symphonic Band, on the occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the founding of its Municipal Band (1940-2020); in 2022, Lyrical Song; in 2023, “Video Mapping”; and in 2024, “Voice”.