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"Vallenato gave me my voice, my purpose, and my connection to the world," said Dangond. "Supporting projects that study and preserve its history is a responsibility I carry with pride. If we want this music to continue touching hearts, we must protect the legacy of those who created it."Preservation Grants Awarded:
Julia Sánchez, Peru – Conservation and Preservation of the Musical Heritage of Master Singer-Songwriter Ernesto Sánchez Fajardo “El Jilguero del Huascarán”. Julia Sánchez, researcher and cultural manager at the National University of Folklore “José María Arguedas”, leads the project dedicated to preserving and restoring the phonographic archive of Ernesto Sánchez Fajardo, “El Jilguero del Huascarán”, a pioneering Andean artist and symbol of Peruvian migration in the 20th century. The initiative aims to restore and digitize 159 recordings of 78 RPM and little-known vinyls that document four decades of the evolution of the huayno as a form of cultural resilience. The project will produce a complete technical inventory, restore and digitize the audio files in high-resolution WAV format, and produce three documentary podcasts for public and academic dissemination. Miviam Ruiz Pérez, Mexico – Preservation and Dissemination of the Unpublished Work of Carlo Borbolla (1902-1990): Living Archive of Caribbean Music. This project aims to preserve and disseminate the unpublished works of the Cuban musicologist Carlo Borbolla Téllez, whose extensive personal archive includes compositions, writings, and autobiographical documents largely unknown to the public. Led by Dr. Miviam Ruiz Pérez, the initiative will establish a freely accessible digital repository to promote Borbolla's legacy through research, interpretation, and musical education in Latin America. Through this effort, the project not only revives Borbolla's contributions but also deepens the knowledge of the musical and cultural roots that connect genres such as jazz and salsa with their Caribbean origins. Research Grants Awarded: Luis Alvarado, Peru – The Evolution of the Selvática Gang. Luis Alvarado's research explores the evolution of the Selvática gang, a defining genre of Peruvian Amazonian popular music. The project analyzes how its transformation through the incorporation of the electric guitar into Amazonian cumbia forged a unique regional identity. It also examines how the genre continues to grow in contemporary jazz and experimental electronic music scenes, illustrating its growing relevance in the dynamic Peruvian musical landscape. Dr. Romy Martínez, Netherlands – Guaranía in Translation: From Paraguay to Europe Through Music and Language. (Guaranía en traducción: desde Paraguay a Europa a través de la música y el lenguaje). This project celebrates the centenary of the Paraguayan musical genre guaranía, created in 1925 by José Asunción Flores and recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024. Dr. Romy Martínez seeks to preserve and disseminate the genre internationally through concerts, research, and intercultural collaboration throughout Northern Europe. By involving new audiences in multicultural and multilingual spaces, the initiative ensures that the guaranía genre continues to be a living tradition. Creating cultural bridges while honoring the musical legacy of Paraguay. Vallenato Preservation Grant Awarded: Jhojam Rincón, Colombia – Tiempos Idos – Apology to Friendship. Jhojam Rincón's preservation initiative seeks to safeguard the extraordinary sound archive that captures the spontaneity of vallenato parties recorded between 1974 and 1985, with legends like Leandro Díaz, Rafael Escalona and the Zuleta brothers. Collected by collector Juan de Jesús Celedón, the 120 analog cassettes contain unpublished interpretations, improvisations and verses that mark the golden age of Colombian vallenato. Through professional digitization and secure archiving, the project preserves this musical record for future generations. Vallenato Research Grant Awarded: Ángela Marín Niebles, Colombia – Women in Vallenato: A Story to Tell. Dr. Ángela Martín Niebles leads a multidisciplinary study to document and celebrate the pioneering women of vallenato music from the early twentieth century. Through historical, anthropological, and musicological research, the project reconstructs the lives and contributions of female composers and artists who have been ignored in a genre predominantly dominated by men. By generating accessible multimedia materials, the project strengthens the cultural memory of Colombia and promotes gender equity in the musical legacy of the nation. A committee of experts from Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, and the United States selected the winners from a group of qualified candidates. Since its creation in 2015, the program has awarded more than $285,000 in grants to support projects, including one that has received a Latin GRAMMY and a GRAMMY.ABOUT SILVESTRE DANGOND:
Silvestre Dangond is a Colombian artist recognized worldwide, especially for having globalized the vallenato genre. In his almost 25 years in the industry, Dangond has won four Latin GRAMMYs®, including Best Cumbia/Vallenato Album this year for his most recent LP, El Último Baile, in addition to having received a GRAMMY nomination. Dangond recently announced the US leg of his El Último Baile Tour, a series of concerts that will take his historic project to major venues across the country in 2026. He has collaborated with artists such as Nicky Jam, Natti Natasha, Carín León, Emilia, Sebastián Yatra, Fonseca and Carlos Vives, and frequently works with initiatives in favor of the next generation of vallenato artists.
ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION:
The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by The Latin Recording Academy®, with the vision of becoming a world-renowned leader in music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024, the Foundation celebrated its tenth anniversary and, over the past decade, has propelled the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, educational programs, and grants that promote Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural legacy. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $13.9 million with the support of members of The Latin Recording Academy, artists, corporate sponsors, and other generous donors. For more information or to make a donation, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on Instagram and Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn
