Wikipedia

Golden Congo

The Golden Congo (Spanish: Congo de Oro) is a Colombian music award that since its founding in 1969 has been presented annually at the Orchestra Festival (Spanish: Festival de Orquestas) of the Barranquilla Carnival.

Golden Congo
Congo de Oro
A Golden Congo being held by a Burro Corcoveón [es] in 2023
CountryColombia
Presented byBarranquilla Carnival
First awarded1969
Websitecarnavaldebarranquilla.org/tradicion/congo-de-oro/

The current Golden Congo award comprises six genre prizes: Vallenato (since 1978), Merengue (since 1994), Tropical (since 1994), Salsa (since 1994), Urban (since 2012), Folk (1992–4, and again since 2018), and four additional prizes: Newcomer, Best Vocalist, Best Instrumentalist and Lo Nuestro ("What's Ours").

Winners

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2024

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In 2024 the Barranquilla Carnival celebrated its 20th incarnation since being proclaimed intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2003.[1][2] As part of the celebrations, the Orchestra Festival did not hold a competition for the Golden Congo, but instead awarded one to every performer.[3]

Year Recipients of a Golden Congo[2]
2024 La Orquesta Internacional de la Policía, Gaiteros de San Jacinto Nueva Generación, Zona 8 Orquesta, Mary Ángel Sanabria, Tubará Reggae, Dionis K da Uno, Son del Sabor, Orquesta Klasica de Ibagué, Los Diferentes del Vallenato, Rafa Pérez, Omar Enrique, Will Fiorillo, La Carmen, Álvaro Ricardo, Cris & Ronny

2012–2023

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In 2012 Golden Congos for "best performance" (Spanish: variations on mejor intérprete or mejor instrumentista) and "urban music" were given for the first time, and the "newcomer" (Spanish: revelación) prize was reintroduced. In 2016 the Golden Congo for performance was split into separate prizes for vocalists and instrumentalists, and in 2018 "folk" was reintroduced as a genre category.

On the 50th anniversary of the Orchestra Festival in 2019 no awards were given; instead, past competitors and winners returned to perform at the festival, including Los Corraleros de Majagual, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Pacho Galán, Checo Acosta, Juan Piña [es], Poncho Zuleta [es], Sergio Vargas, Beto Zabaleta [es], Eddy Herrera, Bazurto All Stars, and Jorge Oñate.[4] In 2021 there was no Barranquilla Carnival due to the Covid-19 pandemic; the Orchestra Festival held a virtual event featuring past performances.[5]

Year Vallenato Merengue Tropical Salsa Urban Folk Newcomer Best Vocalist Best Instrumentalist Lo Nuestro
2023[6] Juan Sajona and Ricardo Oñate Terranova Orquesta Orquesta Klásica de Ibagué Charanga Joven Juanda Caribe Gaiteros de San Jacinto Nueva Generación Yeison Landero Ricardo Oñate Daniel Vega Franco —
2022[7] Nelson Velásquez [es] Dionis K-Da Uno Súper Combo Latino Danny Daniel [es] Óscar Prince C-Tambó Juanda Caribe Caliope Joan Camilo Silvera —
2021 Festival cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2020[8] Fausto Chatela Kumbelé Orquesta Súper Combo Latino de Montería Ray Palacio Willy Fiorillo Alegres Ambulancias Bahía Sokus Estefanie Mercedes Jorge Antonio Negrette —
2019 No awards given, as past winners were honoured for the festival's 50th anniversary.[4]
2018[9] Fello Zabaleta RH Positivo La Nómina del Pin Charanga del Sur Bazurto All Star La Banda de Nayo [es] Linica Danny Daniel Nayo Cumbia Caribe
2017[10] Evelyn Kumbelé Orquesta La Nómina del Pin Fausto Chatela Grupo Scala — — Fausto Chatela Wendy Paola Corro Cardona La Banda de Nayo
2016[11] Dyonell Velásquez Los Inéditos La Nómina del Pin Johnny "El Bravo" López Bazurto All Stars — — Andrés Prado (from the group of "El Bravo") Dyonell Velásquez (accordion) La Banda de Nayo
Nayo (flute)
Year Vallenato Merengue Tropical Salsa Urban Folk Newcomer Best Performance Lo Nuestro
2015[12] Andrés Ariza Villazón & Luis Campillo Bandola Orquesta Edwin Gómez Bandola Orquesta Mr. Black — Dyonnel Velásquez Nayo C-Tambó
2014[13] Churo Díaz [es] & Elías Mendoza Sergio Vargas Voces de Billo Hoy Pachalo y su Son Cubano Africaribe — Bandé Orquesta Rafael Gavilán Pachalo La Banda de Nayo
2013[14] Peter Manjarrés [es] — La Nómina del Pin Orquesta Broadway de Cuba Kevin Flórez — Fausto Chatela Miguel Romero Álvaro Ricardo
2012[15] Iván Villazón Bonny Cepeda La Nómina del Pin Danny Daniel Punto G — Orquesta Bareke Elías Mendoza[16] Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto
"—" denotes no award given or no information available.

1995–2011

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In 1995 the categories "newcomer" and "folk group" were discontinued, and a prize was introduced called the "Premio Rescate de lo Nuestro" (English: rescuing what is ours prize).[17] It later became known as simply "Lo Nuestro", and at one point as "Lo Nuestro 'Roberto de Castro'".[10]

Year Vallenato Merengue Tropical Salsa Lo Nuestro
2011[15] Kvrass Wilfrido Vargas Álvaro Ricardo Orquesta de la Policía Nacional Punto G
2010[15] Iván Villazón Eddy Herrera Checo Acosta y su Orquesta Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz Álvaro Ricardo
2009[15] Jorge Celedón RH Positivo Checo Acosta Andy Montañez Totó la Momposina
2008[15] Peter Manjarrés Bananas Gran Orquesta del Carnaval Estrellas de Niche Fusión Orquesta
2007[15] Iván Villazón Milly Quezada Checo Acosta Adolescente Cumbia Caribe
2006[15] Peter Manjarrés Los Vecinos Son de Ovejas Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz —
2005[15] Iván Villazón Eddy Herrera Fusión Atlántico José Alberto "El Canario" —
2004[15] — Eddy Herrera Checo Acosta Trabuko —
2003[15] — — Fusión Orquesta Kimbombó Son de Ovejas
2002[15] — RH Positivo Jacaranda Show Kimbombó Son Mocaná
2001[15] — RH Positivo Shekeré Orquesta Kimbombó La Franja
2000[15] — Factor RH Fascinación Caribe Guayacán Orquesta La Franja
1999 — La Clave[18] Checo Acosta[19] Grupo Niche[19] —
1998[17] Iván Villazón & Franco Argelles Los Generales Joe Arroyo with La Matica de Patilla Grupo Clase Checo Acosta
1997[17] Iván Villazón and Franco Argelles La Clave (national) Joe Arroyo Grupo Niche (national) Checo Acosta
Los Toros Band [de] and Kinito Méndez (external) Cohiba de Cuba (external)
1996[17] Binomio de Oro La Clave (national) Checo Acosta — —
Rikarena [es] (external)
1995[17] Iván Villazón & Franco Argelles Bananas Joe Arroyo (national) Grupo Niche (national) Zoila Nieto
Eddie Herrera (external) Irakere (external)
"—" denotes no award given or no information available.

1994

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In 1994 prizes for the musical genres of merengue, tropical, and salsa were introduced, in place of "orchestra" and "ensemble". 1994 was also the last year that "newcomer" and "folk group" were awarded until their return in 2012 and 2018 respectively.

Year Vallenato/Accordion Merengue Tropical Salsa Newcomer Folk Group
1994[17] Los Betos Grupo Bananas Checo Acosta El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico La Clave Swing Barranquilla

1989–1993

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In 1989 the category of "newcomer" (Spanish: revelación) was awarded for the first time, and in 1992 "folk group" (Spanish: grupo folclórico) was introduced as a category; both were discontinued after 1994 and reintroduced in the 2010s.

Year[17] Orchestra Ensemble/Group Vallenato/Accordion Newcomer Folk Group
1993 Grupo Niche (national) Los Tupamaros [es] Julio Rojas [es] & Joaco Pertuz Los Alfa 8 Juan Piña [es]
La Sonora Ponceña (external)
1992 Los Inéditos (national) — Binomio de Oro — Son Cartagena
Oscar De León (external)
1991 Los Inéditos Nando Pérez (tropical) Binomio de Oro Joseíto Martínez —
Grupo Niche (salsa)
1990 Los Tupamaros (national) Grupo Raíces Diomedes Díaz La Innovación —
Josie Esteban y la Patrulla 15 (external)
1989 Pacho Galán Joe Arroyo (tropical) Binomio de Oro Los Tímidos —
Grupo Clase (external)
"—" denotes no award given or no information available.

1978–1988

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In 1978 the category of "vallenato" was introduced, which was also sometimes awarded as "accordion". The "ensemble" prize was occasionally awarded as "group" (Spanish: combo) instead. From 1981 the ensemble prize was regularly split by either genre (tropical/salsa) or by nationality.

Year[17] Orchestra Ensemble/Group Vallenato/Accordion
1988 Joe Arroyo (national) Los Inéditos Binomio de Oro
Los Tupamaros (national)
1987 Pacho Galán Joe Arroyo (national) Binomio de Oro
Wilfrido Vargas (external)
1986 Hermanos Martelo Joe Arroyo (national) Los Hermanos Zuleta
Wilfrido Vargas (external)
1985 Los Caribes Joe Arroyo (national) Jorge Oñate
Johnny Ventura & Los Vecinos (external)
1984 Hermanos Martelo Joe Arroyo (national) Jorge Oñate
Johnny Ventura & Los Vecinos (external)
1983 Hermanos Martelo Juan Piña (tropical) Diomedes Díaz
Cuco Valoy (salsa)
1982 Pacho Galán Juan Piña (tropical) El Doble Poder
Wilfrido Vargas (salsa)
1981 Pacho Galán Gabriel Romero [es] (tropical) Jorge Oñate
Cuco Valoy (salsa)
1980 Los Melódicos Juan Piña Alfredo Gutiérrez
1979 Los Melódicos Pastor López y sus famosas Caleñas Jorge Oñate
1978 Pacho Galán Fruko y sus Tesos Binomio de Oro

1969–1977

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From 1969 to 1977 the only categories were "orchestra" (Spanish: orquesta) and "ensemble" (Spanish: conjuto).

Year[17] Orchestra Ensemble
1977 Pacho Galán Adolfo Echeverría [es]
1976 Los Caribes Alfredo Gutiérrez
1975 Hermanos Martelo Nelson Henríquez [es]
1974 Pacho Galán Fruko y sus Tesos
1973 Lucho Bermúdez Nelson Henríquez
1972 Los Melódicos Afrocombo
Papa Molina [es] (small orchestra)
1971 Hermanos Martelo Los Graduados
1970 Hermanos Martelo La Sonora Matancera
1969 Billo's Caracas Boys Los Corraleros de Majagual

Special awards

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Occasionally special Golden Congos are given to recognise particular achievements.

The Super Congo

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The Super Congo (also called the Super Congo de Oro or the Supercongo) was created in 1990 specifically to honour Joe Arroyo,[20] who had won a Golden Congo at each of the 6 preceding festivals. Since then the Super Congo has been awarded several times.

Recipients of a Super Congo
Year Recipient
1990 Joe Arroyo[17]
1991 Los Hermanos Rosario[17]
1998 Shakira[21]
2013 Checo Acosta[22]
2014[23] Grupo Niche
Jorge Oñate

Rey del Pueblo

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Twice a Rey del Pueblo (King of the People) has been crowned at the Orchestra Festival, decided by a public vote.[24]

Year Recipient
2014 Martín Elías & Juancho De la Espriella[23]
2015 Cuco Valoy[25]

Unique awards

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Some Golden Congos have only been given once. In 1985 Alejo Durán was awarded the "Special Congo" (Spanish: Congo Especial).[17] In 1989 Alfredo de la Fe won a Golden Congo for "Best Solo Artist".[17] In 1994 Cristian del Real received an honourable mention as the "boy genius of the timbal."[17]

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Golden Congos are also given for floats and dancers that take part in the Battle of the Flowers parade of the Barranquilla Carnival.[14][26][27]

Night of Orchestras

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At the Barranquilla Carnival Night of Orchestras (Spanish: Noche de Orquestas) a jury awards Golden Congos in the same genre categories[a] as the Orchestra Festival, and in addition awards the "Antonio María Peñaloza" prize for an unpublished song.[6] The competition at the Night of Orchestras is open to musicians and groups from Barranquilla and the surrounding region.[28]: 2 

The awards at the Night of Orchestras were first given in 2018, and the winners received automatic entry to the competition at the Orchestra Festival that year.[28]: 5  In 2019 no competition was held at the Orchestra Festival, and since then winners at the Night of Orchestras have been granted entry to the Orchestra Festival the following year, as opposed to the same year.[29][7]: q 

Winners of the Golden Congo at the Night of Orchestras
Year Vallenato Merengue Tropical Salsa Urban Folk Newcomer Best Vocalist Best Instrumentalist Best Orchestra
2024[30][31] Abel Cantillo La Máxima Orquesta Grupo Musical Warundaimo Luismi Yanes Dinastía Valdez Miriam Negrete Maribella Álvaro Alcocer Eimar Martínez —
2023[6] María Ángel Sanabria Zona 8 Orquesta La Carmen — Tubará — Enkelé Voces y Tambores Miriam Negrete Franco Hernández de Curbelo —
2022[7] Los Diferentes Marisella Banda Músicos de mi Tierra Zumbalé Orquesta Internacional Nobleza Music Álvaro Eugenio Camargo Marlón De la Peña & his group Viento y Tambó Charanga Jóven María Paula Meza (Músicos de mi Tierra) Luis Miguel Yanes, (Timbales, Charanga Jóven) —
2021 Festival cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2020[32] Lino Quiroz Dionis K da Uno Nolan Orquesta Orquesta Son del Sabor Bahía Zokus — — Enrique Paba — La Mayor de Curramba
2019[33] Los de Juancho Calipso Orquesta Súper Combo Latino A 4 Varas Óscar Prince Son Palenque Área 22 Luis Ter La Voz Franco Antonio Hernández Arroyabe —
2018[34] Orla Sandoval e Iván de Hoyos — Juancho Naranjo Ébano Linica Conjunto Tradición — Galapa Orquesta Joaquín Pérez (gaita) —
Jesús Avendaño (guitar)
"—" denotes no award given or no information available.
Winners of the "Antonio María Peñaloza" Golden Congo for an unpublished song
Year Position Title Performer Writer
2024[30] 1st place "Para ser Feliz" Revolú Ronald Polo
2nd place "De Todo Para Todos" Byordi Yordy Beleño & Carlos Díaz
3rd place "A Ritmo de Carnaval" Marlon Hincapié, Fidet Leotav, Jorge Salcedo
2023[6] 1st place "La Madre Tierra" Son Son —
2nd place "Mi Historia" Marelvis Herrera —
3rd place "Barranquilla de Puro Corazón" Astroson Orquesta —
2022[7] 1st place "Agua Bendita" Viento y Tambó Luis Vega, Marlón De la Peña
2nd place "Mil Años" Charanga Jóven Jorge Salgado
3rd place "No Soy la Chica del Momento" Zumbalé Orquesta Internacional Luis Clavijo
2021 Festival cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2020[32] 1st place "Vacilale al Carnaval" Long Play Band Lina Pineda
2nd place "Barranquilla Tiene Swing" Nolan Orquesta Frank Guerrero
3rd place "Ven a Barranquilla" Macondo de Colombia José Jin Martínez
2019[33] 1st place "Parranda en Carnaval" Jhon Harby Ubaque
2nd place "Tortolita" Son Palenque Justo Valdez Cáceres
3rd place "Joselito Carnavalero" Súper Combo Latino Terinzon Díaz Carmona
2018[34] 1st place "Homenaje a Barranquilla" Juancho Naranjo Tevinson Díaz
"—" denotes no award given or no information available.

Notes

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  1. ^ i.e. vallenato, merengue, tropical, salsa, urban, folk

References

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  1. ^ "Carnival of Barranquilla", UNESCO Intagible Cultural Heritage, retrieved 2024-10-17
  2. ^ a b Flor Díaz Ospino (2024-02-12), "Carnaval de Barranquilla: Todos Fueron Ganadores en el Festival de Orquestas 2024" [All Were Winners at the Orchestra Festival 2024], El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-17
  3. ^ "Este año, la organización del Carnaval definió que no habría concurso y entregó Congo de Oro a todas las orquestas participantes con ocasión de la celebración de la declaratoria del Carnaval de Barranquilla como Patrimonio de la Humanidad." "Orquesta Ibaguereña ganadora del Congo de Oro 2024 en el Carnaval de Barranquilla" [Orquesta Ibaguereña wins the Golden Congo 2024 at the Carnival of Barranquilla], El Cronista (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-02-12
  4. ^ a b Carlos Restrepo (2019-03-05), "Festival de Orquestas de Barranquilla homenajeó a Adolfo Echeverría" [Barranquilla Orchestra Festival paid homage to Adolfo Echeverría], El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-16
  5. ^ "Especial del Festival de Orquestas un recorrido por su historia musical" [Festival of Orchestras Special: a journey through its musical history], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), 2021-02-11, retrieved 2024-10-17
  6. ^ a b c d Leonardo Herrera Delgans (2023-02-20), "Ganadores del Congo de Oro del Festival de Orquestas y Noche de Orquestas 2023", El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-13
  7. ^ a b c d Leonardo Herrera Delgans (2022-03-28), "Estos son los ganadores del Congo de Oro del Festival de Orquestas", El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-13
  8. ^ "¡Festival de Orquestas una maratónica jornada musical que bailó la gente!", Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), 2020-02-25, retrieved 2024-10-13
  9. ^ 2018 winners:
  10. ^ a b "Ganadores del Festival de Orquestas 2017" [Winners of the Orchestra Festival 2017], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), 2017-03-03, retrieved 2024-10-13
  11. ^ "Los Mejores del Carnaval 2016" [The Best of Carnival 2016], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-13
  12. ^ "Los ganadores del Festival de Orquestas", El Universal (in Spanish), 2015-02-17, retrieved 2024-10-13
  13. ^ "Los Mejores del Carnaval 2014" [The Best of Carnival 2014], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-13
  14. ^ a b "Los Mejores del Carnaval 2013" [The Best of Carnival 2013], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-13
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Ganadores Festival de Orquesta 2000 - 2013", Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), archived from the original on 2013-10-31, retrieved 2024-10-15
  16. ^ Andrés Artuz Fernández (2012-02-21), "Festival de Orquestas 2012 homenajeó a Joe Arroyo, el Rey del Carnaval" [2012 Orchestra Festival paid homage to Joe Arroyo, King of the Carnival], El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-16
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Nistar Romero Acosta (1999-02-13), "Festival de Orquestas, Música para el Carnaval", El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-13
  18. ^ Nistar Romero Acostar (1999-02-19), "La Clave Sumando Éxitos", El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-16
  19. ^ a b "Ganó Checo Acosta", El Tiempo (in Spanish), 1999-02-18, retrieved 2024-10-16
  20. ^ "Fue tanto el prestigio que alcanzó en cierto momento de su carrera el cartagenero, que el Carnaval de Barranquilla tuvo que inventarse un galardón nuevo para él: el llamado Supercongo de Oro." "Joe Arroyo, 10 años después de su partida" [Joe Arroyo, 10 years after his departure], Radio Nacional de Colombia (in Spanish), 2021-07-26, retrieved 2024-10-16
  21. ^ "Shakira Cierra con Super Congo El Carnaval" [Shakira Closes the Carnival with a Super Congo], El Tiempo (in Spanish), 1998-02-24, retrieved 2024-10-16
  22. ^ "Ganadores del Festival de Orquestas" [Winners of the Orchestra Festival], El Tiempo (in Spanish), 2013-02-12, retrieved 2024-10-16
  23. ^ a b "Alto nivel musical en el Festival de Orquestas" [High level of music at the Orchestra Festival], El Heraldo (in Spanish), 2014-03-05, retrieved 2024-10-16
  24. ^ Jhonatan Diaz (2019-02-28), "Los Reyes del Pueblo en el Festiorquestas", El Heraldo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-16
  25. ^ Caracol Radio Barranquilla (2018-07-18), "Cuco Valoy recibe Congo de Oro 'Rey del Pueblo' 2015", Caracol Televisión (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-16
  26. ^ "Ganadores Congo de Oro del Carnaval 2017" [Golden Congo Winners of Carnival 2017], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), 2017-03-10, retrieved 2024-10-16
  27. ^ Samy Cantillo G. (2019-04-08), "Carnaval revela ganadores de Congo de Oro 2019" [Carnival reveals winners of Golden Congo 2019], El Heraldo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-16
  28. ^ a b Libardo Berdugo Palma (2017-11-03), Reglamento: Noche de Orquestas [Regulations: Night of Orchestras] (PDF) (in Spanish), Carnaval de Barranquilla, retrieved 2024-10-17
  29. ^ Lina Hernández Serrano (2024-02-09), "Carnaval de Barranquilla 2024: fecha y hora para disfrutar del Festival de Orquestas", El Tiempo (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-16
  30. ^ a b "Ganadores Noche de Orquestas 2024" [Winners Night of Orchestras 2024], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), 2020-02-11, retrieved 2024-10-17
  31. ^ Entertainment Editorial Staff (2024-02-12), "Estos son los ganadores del Congo de Oro en el Carnaval de Barranquilla 2024", El Espectador (in Spanish), retrieved 2024-10-17
  32. ^ a b "Ganadores Noche de Orquestas 2020" [Winners Night of Orchestras 2020], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), 2020-02-23, retrieved 2024-10-17
  33. ^ a b "Ganadores Noche de Orquestas 2019" [Winners Night of Orchestras 2019], Carnaval de Barranquilla (in Spanish), 2020-03-05, retrieved 2024-10-17
  34. ^ a b "Estos son los ganadores de la Noche de Orquestas 2018" [These are the winners of the Night of Orchestras 2018], Zona Cero (in Spanish), 2018-02-11, retrieved 2024-10-17
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