Six talented researchers, musicologists, non-profit organizations and educational institutions will receive a total of $60,000 for research and preservation of Latin music, sponsored for the first time by PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos

MIAMI (DECEMBER 19, 2024) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® announced the six winners of its Latin Music Research and Preservation Grants program. This marks the second time this year that winners have been awarded for this program.

In celebration of the Foundation’s 10th anniversary, and in partnership with PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos, it launched six additional grants increasing the individual grant amounts from $5,000 to $10,000 each, for a total of $60,000 distributed amongst projects for this group.

The program provides grants to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, musicologists and researchers around the world who are enhancing and preserving Latin music heritage. This year, a diverse array of institutions and scholars will benefit from this support. The six grants are dedicated to a range of initiatives. Research Grants focus on projects that highlight historical and anthropological studies, as well as the documentation of traditions and Latin folklore, while Preservation Grants are designed to fund the archiving and safeguarding of Latin music and its distinctive cultural practices.

“Research and Preservation Grants are essential for preserving the legacy of Latin music and fostering the next generation of creators. We are grateful to PepsiCo Juntos Crecemos for their unwavering support and continued passion to celebrating Latin music and its cultural heritage,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “Together, we are able to broaden our reach and provide support to even more deserving projects in alignment with our mission.”

Awarded Research Grants:

Dr. Manuel Sevilla, Colombia – Archivos y festivales: Aprendizajes de dos casos en Colombia (Archives and Festivals: Learnings from Two Cases in Colombia) delves into the rich cultural heritage of Colombia, analyzing innovative practices in archive creation, the roles of key stakeholders, and the ways archives are utilized to strengthen musical ecosystems. This initiative focuses on two celebrated festivals: the Festival de Música del Pacífico Petronio Álvarez (The Pacific Music Festival Petronio Álvarez) in Cali and the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata (Vallenato Legend Festival) in Valledupar. Both festivals honor musical traditions recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting their significance in preserving and celebrating Colombia’s vibrant cultural legacy.

Jorge Benavides, Honduras – Dügü Inaudito: Salvaguardia del Legado Ancestral Garífuna (Inaudible Dügü: Safeguarding the Ancestral Garífuna Legacy) is an initiative dedicated to revitalizing the Garífuna language, music, and dance—proudly recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. According to UNESCO, these practices face significant risks due to discrimination and the declining transmission of the Garífuna language. This project, developed in collaboration with Tambor Negro, will document the Dügü, an ancestral ceremony that embodies the essence of Garífuna intangible heritage. The findings will contribute to the broader Indigenous Languages Project led by the CCET and will also be integrated into the MUSIDANSE Institute at the University of Paris 8, ensuring global recognition and preservation of this invaluable cultural legacy.

Caio de Souza, Brazil – Sonic Transductions: Revisiting Lorenzo Dow Turner’s Radioscape in Bahia (1940-1941), an innovative project that seeks to shed light on artistic production, cultural and social fabric, and historical context by bringing to life the groundbreaking recordings made by African-American linguist Lorenzo Dow Turner in Salvador, Bahia, during 1940 and 1941. Through these rediscovered audio treasures, the project will offer fresh perspectives on the artistic production of Bahia’s capital, extending beyond the renowned figures of this pivotal era. The initiative will culminate in a six-episode podcast series, providing an in-depth exploration of these recordings and their enduring significance, inviting listeners to engage with a rich and multifaceted chapter of Brazil’s cultural history.

Awarded Preservation Grants:

Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos, Bolivia – The Orquesta Experimental de Instrumentos Nativos (OEIN) (Experimental Orchestra of Native Instruments) has launched an ambitious initiative to preserve and celebrate the country’s indigenous musical heritage. Preservación, Digitalización y Geolocalización de los Registros de Música Indígena Boliviana de Alain Thirion (Preservation, Digitization, and Geolocation of Alain Thirion's Records of Bolivian Indigenous Music) focuses on the preservation, digitization, cataloging, and geolocation of a remarkable collection of recordings made by Australian researcher Alain Thirion in the 1990s. These recordings capture the rich musical traditions of various indigenous communities from Bolivia’s highlands and valleys—many of which face the risk of extinction due to migration, generational shifts, and the pressures of globalization. Through this initiative, the OEIN aims to safeguard and share this invaluable cultural legacy with future generations, ensuring it remains a vibrant part of Bolivia’s national identity.

Andrew Skinner, Daniel Zanessi and Antonio Leguiza, together with the Faculty of Arts and Design of the National University of Cuyo, Argentina – The project Creación de "Archivo de Música Cuyana y Popular Argentina" en La Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Creation of the 'Archive of Cuyana and Popular Argentine Music' at the National University of Cuyo) is focused on establishing the first public archive of Cuyano and Argentine Popular Music. It aims to recover, preserve, and promote a vast collection of musical recordings that are of immense importance to the Cuyano, Argentine, and Latin American cultures. To form the archive, they have based their efforts on the audio collection of the historic Zanessi Studio, culminating years of preservation projects and institutionalizing the care of this valuable material. From this foundation, they are creating a public space where musicians and their families can contribute their materials to this Creative Commons collection, ensuring its preservation at the National University of Cuyo. As a first contribution, they will present the already digitized audio collection as part of the "Zanessi Collection" project, funded by The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation’s Latin Music Research and Preservation Grant program in 2023. Among the many musical archives, it will include the complete works of Tito Francia, a founding member of the Nueva Canción movement, who collaborated with Mercedes Sosa, Armando Tejada Gómez, Oscar Matus, and revolutionized the aesthetic of Cuyano music, extending his influence across Latin America.

Miguel Díaz y Nicolas Ramirez Salaberry, Paraguay – The Creación de la Fonoteca Memoria Histórica de la Radio Nacional del Paraguay (Creation of the Historical Memory Sound Archive of the National Radio of Paraguay) aims to rescue, safeguard, and promote the preservation of vinyl records from the former radio station's archive. This invaluable collection was discovered during a research project conducted in 2023 by Mg. Nicolás Ramírez Salaberry and Dr. Miguel Díaz Antar, with financial support from the National Secretariat of Culture of Paraguay. Initially, the researchers sought to create an updated inventory of the Radio Nacional del Paraguay's archive for musicological studies. However, they found that no such collection existed. The few remaining and rare records that had survived media changes were scattered and poorly preserved. Through interviews with former staff and directors, it was revealed that much of the archive's material had been looted and disappeared in connection with events surrounding the fall of dictator Alfredo Stroessner in 1989, and the subsequent erasure of files related to the dictatorship. The investigation resulted in the recovery of 120 vinyl records that belonged to the old sound archive and constitute the primary safeguarding material for the current project.

A committee of experts from Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, and the United States selected the recipients among numerous qualified candidates. Since its inception in 2015, the program has awarded more than $255,000 in grants to support projects, one of which received a Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY® Award.

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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 global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024 the Foundation celebrates its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $10 million dollars with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information, or to donate, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org or our Facebook  page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on X and Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

305.428.3476

The Foundation awarded more than $1.3 million across a total of 49 scholarships

to music students around the world

Credit: John Parra/Getty Images for the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation

Click here for more images

MIAMI (AUGUST 13, 2025) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® awarded the 2025 Warner Music Latina Scholarship to trumpeter Arlen Borrego Miranda during a special ceremony at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. The ceremony, hosted by 2022 Prodigy Scholarship recipient Valentina García, featured a performance by Latin GRAMMY® and GRAMMY®-nominated artist Elena Rose, alongside scholarship recipients and alumni. The musical director for the evening was Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY-winning producer, composer and conductor Carlos Fernando López, a triple graduate of the Frost School of Music. Additionally, 48 more scholarships were awarded to music students around the world.

Also known as the Prodigy Scholarship, the annual award supports music education and Latin music genres, and was sponsored by a record label for the first time in the Foundation’s history. The scholarship allows Borrego Miranda to pursue a bachelor's degree at Berklee College of Music starting this fall. In addition, it also supports the costs of tuition, room, board and wrap around services that include ongoing mentorship and learning opportunities provided in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. Previous sponsors include: Sebastián Yatra (2024), Nicky Jam (2023), Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016) and Enrique Iglesias (2015).

Since its establishment in 2014, the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation has committed an extraordinary sum of more than $13.9 million in scholarships, grants, musical instruments and educational programs throughout the United States and Ibero-America.

“Each year we have the privilege and responsibility of reviewing and awarding scholarships made possible by the generosity of our donors,” said Raquel "Rocky" Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. “We are moved by the talented students and grateful to our partners who have enabled us to provide more than $1.3 million across 49 scholarships to music students worldwide, ensuring the rich legacy of Latin music.”

“At Warner Music Latina we believe in the power of education as a catalyst for creativity and cultural preservation,” said Roberto Andrade, Managing Director at Warner Music Latina. “Partnering with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation to sponsor the Prodigy Scholarship reflects our long-term commitment to nurturing the next generation of Latin music talent. We’re proud to help Arlen take this next step and are honored to support the future of our music.”

“Music has saved my life. Finding this path from a young age and having the opportunity to pursue this dream, thanks to the support of Warner Music Latina and the incredible Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, exceeds everything I ever imagined,” said Borrego Miranda. “I am committed to making the most of this incredible gift by working hard and making everyone proud. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Additionally, the Foundation awarded the first Emerging Talent Scholarship, in partnership with Berklee College of Music, to saxophonist Aina López Pla. The Emerging Talent Scholarship covers a bachelor’s degree at Berklee, room and board, as well as a laptop and ongoing mentorship and learning opportunities provided in partnership with the Foundation.

The Foundation also announced the recipients of its Gifted Tuition Scholarships and Tuition Assistance Scholarships—with an additional 48 talented students from diverse backgrounds receiving the opportunity to pursue an education at some of the most prestigious music institutions in the world.

Gifted Tuition Scholarship Recipients:

Two (2) Gifted Tuition Scholarships of up to $120,000 each were awarded to students to cover tuition costs towards a four-year bachelor's degree in music, and wrap around services, starting this fall:

• Frost School of Music at the University of Miami awarded one scholarship to vocalist Irenda Arano Díaz to attend the elite music school.

• Gil Family Foundation awarded one scholarship to drummer Miguel Francisco Pie Gil to attend the school of his choice.

Tuition Assistance Scholarship Recipients:

In addition, 45 students each received the Tuition Assistance Scholarship, a one-time scholarship that ranges in value from $10,000 to up to $12,500 toward the tuition costs for the university or college of their choice and includes wrap around services provided by the Foundation.

For the second consecutive year, Gibson Gives, Gibson’s philanthropic division, sponsored three (3) Tuition Assistance Scholarships—awarded to students who study guitar as their principal instrument—and gifted a Gibson guitar to each of their respective scholarship recipients.

Further generating impact, AIE Sociedad de Artistas, Amazon Music, Bulova, Kraft Family Inc. and Open Society Foundations sponsored Tuition Assistance Scholarships. To view all scholarships awarded and their respective recipients, please refer to the chart below for additional details.

https://naras.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/eng use

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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 global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024, the Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade, it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $13.9 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information or to donate, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

This year’s honorees include Susana Baca, Enrique Bunbury, Ivan Lins, Pandora,

Eric Schilling and Olga Tañón

Click here for additional images

MIAMI (AUGUST 7, 2025) — The Latin Recording Academy® announced today that Susana Baca, Enrique Bunbury, Ivan Lins, Pandora and Olga Tañón will receive this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, as part of its annual Special Awards Presentation. Additionally, Eric Schilling will receive the Trustees Award. The first recipient of the Latin Music Educator Award will also be recognized during the ceremony.

“It is an immense privilege to honor these musical legends—who continue redefining our Latin music and heritage—as well as our inaugural Latin Music Educator Award recipient,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “We look forward to celebrating them all as part of our 26th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Week festivities.”

The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to Latin music and its communities. The Trustees Award is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to Latin music during their careers in ways other than performance. Both distinctions are voted on by The Latin Recording Academy's Board of Trustees.

The Latin Music Educator Award is a new distinction, in partnership with the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®, that recognizes one exceptional educator from the global music community who is making a significant impact by incorporating Latin music into their curriculum. Additionally, the recipient’s school music program will receive a $10,000 instrument donation to support continued music education.

The honorees will be celebrated during a private event, presented for the second consecutive year by Windstar Cruises, on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, in Las Vegas.

2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:

Susana Baca (Peru)

Throughout a distinguished career that spans decades, Susana Baca has investigated, cherished and safeguarded the once forgotten traditions of Afro-Peruvian music. A luminous performer — and three-time Latin GRAMMY winner and GRAMMY nominee — she belongs in the same exclusive group of folk songstresses as Mercedes Sosa and Violeta Parra. Born in 1944, Susana Esther Baca de la Colina grew up in Lima, surrounded by music. She initially worked as a schoolteacher, then began traveling across the Peruvian coastline with her husband, Ricardo Pereira, studying the country’s Black culture. By the mid-‘90s, her exquisite recording of the Chabuca Granda gem “María Landó” had established her as a global diva, igniting a growing interest in the Afro-Peruvian genre. In 2020, Baca demonstrated the purity of her vision with A Capella, a stunning solo session. She continues touring and recording to this day.

Enrique Bunbury (Spain)

Pioneering, musically omnivorous and intensely poetic, Enrique Bunbury is not only one of the most visionary rock stars ever to emerge from Spain, but also a 21st century master when it comes to crafting transcendent songs in the Spanish language. Born in Zaragoza in 1967, Enrique Ortiz de Landázuri Izarduy gained fame between the late ‘80s and the early ‘90s as the vocalist for the band Héroes del Silencio. But it was his solo output — beginning with classic albums like 1999’s Pequeño and 2002’s Flamingos — that found him developing a wondrous sound nourished by the reckless passion of Latin American folklore and the chiaroscuro shades of cabaret music. A live performer of hypnotic bravado, the Latin GRAMMY winner has continued to expand his stark aesthetic on memorable LPs like 2023’s Greta Garbo and 2025’s Cuentas Pendientes.

Ivan Lins (Brazil)

The creator of such timeless Brazilian anthems as “Madalena” and “Começar de Novo,” Ivan Lins is a keyboardist and singer/songwriter of staggering harmonic imagination and melodic genius — a Rio de Janeiro native who began his career under the spell of bossa nova, but quickly took flight and developed a deeply personal, cosmopolitan musical language of his own. Born in 1945, Ivan Guimarães Lins first gained exposure in Brazil during the late ‘60s. Gradually, his songs bewitched several generations of American jazz stars, from Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan to Quincy Jones and Michael Bublé. With over 800 compositions to his credit, the prolific Lins has been releasing new records from the ‘70s to the present. He is a two-time GRAMMY nominee and has won multiple Latin GRAMMYs, including Album Of The Year in 2005 for Cantando Histórias, a soulful retrospective live session.

Pandora (Mexico)

The landscape of Latin pop was forever transformed in 1985 when Mexican vocal trio Pandora released “Cómo Te Va Mi Amor,” the first of many international hit singles. It wasn’t only the song’s opening sax line, supple backbeat and sweet keyboard lines that captured the public’s imagination. There was also an air of hope and everlasting romance in the vocalizing of the band’s stars: sisters Isabel and Mayte Lascurain, and Fernanda Meade. Pandora’s now-legendary, self-titled debut was only the beginning. The GRAMMY nominees have collaborated with such musical legends as Armando Manzanero and Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews and Luis Miguel. In 2019, Más Pandora Que Nunca expanded the trio’s repertoire with a number of stellar duets. Still going strong, Pandora is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with Pandora 40, a new compilation album of their greatest hits from the last four decades, along with an autobiographical tome detailing their personal and professional trajectory.

Olga Tañón (Puerto Rico)

One listen of the 1994 mega-hit “Es Mentiroso” is enough to appreciate the inordinate amounts of attitude and swing that Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón has brought to merengue — a genre that at the time was predominantly male and confined to the Dominican Republic. But Tañón is much more than a merengue superstar. She has experimented with a multitude of styles, lending her gutsy voice to bachata, salsa and Latin pop. Olga Teresa Tañón Ortiz was born in San Juan in 1967, and kicked off her career as a member of tropical group Chantelle before experiencing massive success on her own. From the vibrant urbano tropical fusion of 2017’s “La Gran Fiesta” to the feverish groove of 2021’s “Mi Forma De Ser,” the multiple Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY winner continues to shine as a beacon of contemporary merengue music.

2025 Trustees Award Honoree:

Eric Schilling (United States)

The recipient of 12 Latin GRAMMYs and eight GRAMMYs, Eric Schilling is a visionary audio engineer who has shaped and transformed the sound of Latin recordings over the last quarter century. He began his career as a teenager, taping live radio broadcasts by rock legends in the San Francisco Bay area, where he was mentored by Motown veteran Bob Ohlsson. Moving to Florida proved serendipitous, as Schilling established a long-standing creative partnership with Gloria and Emilio Estefan, becoming their engineer of choice on classic albums such as Mi Tierra and 90 Millas. Schilling has also added a sumptuous sheen of audio magic to quintessential 21st century LPs by Shakira, Alejandro Sanz, Thalía, Juan Luis Guerra, Cachao and many others. An expert in engineering major broadcast events, he has also won 8 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Sound Mixing.

Alex Hadad will serve as executive producer of the event, working under the direction of The Latin Recording Academy’s production team led by Ayleen Figueras.

For the latest news, visit the official Latin Recording Academy site at LatinGRAMMY.com. Follow us on Facebook (LatinGRAMMYs), X (@LatinGRAMMYs), Instagram (@LatinGRAMMYs), and the Latin GRAMMYs WhatsApp Channel, and use #LatinGRAMMY on all popular social media platforms. The official Latin GRAMMY app is also available on iOS (Apple) and Android (Google Play).

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

ABOUT WINDSTAR CRUISES:

For four decades, Windstar Cruises has been reimagining small-ship cruising with a distinctive blend of relaxed luxury and genuine connection to the world’s most captivating destinations. From its origins with motor sailing yachts tailored for upscale yet casual travel, Windstar has grown into a diverse fleet of five Star Class all-suite yachts and three Wind Class sailing yachts, hosting only 150-350 guests each. Windstar is proud to support the arts with special activities, sponsorships and theme cruises throughout the year.

MEDIA CONTACT:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.Alberto@grammy.com

This event will honor legends such as Rocío Jurado, Lola Flores, Camarón de la Isla, and Enrique Morente; as well as icons like Raphael, Joaquín Sabina, Alejandro Sanz, Manuel Alejandro, and Miguel Ríos

It will also celebrate contemporary artists with special appearances by David Bisbal, Manuel Carrasco, Vanesa Martín and India Martínez, among others

Tickets go on sale today, and the funds raised will support musical development in the region

MIAMI (JULY 28, 2025) — On Wednesday, September 10, The Latin Recording Academy®, in collaboration with la Junta de Andalucía, continues its calendar of events in the Andalusian community—which began in 2023—by hosting Latin GRAMMY® Celebra: La Música de Andalucía, in Sevilla.

The event, which will take place at the Cartuja Center CITE, will honor Andalucía and some of its most influential musical artists. From timeless voices and exceptional artists that reflect the region’s rich musical legacy, like the legends Rocío Jurado, Lola Flores, Camarón de la Isla, or Enrique Morente, to icons like Raphael, Joaquín Sabina, Alejandro Sanz, Manuel Alejandro, and Miguel Ríos. The event will also include special appearances by David Bisbal, Manuel Carrasco, Vanesa Martín and India Martínez, among others.

“We are proud to return to Sevilla to honor Andalucía’s musical legacy and the extraordinary artists who have emerged from this land, whose influence has been pivotal in the global impact of Latin music,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy.

With over 30 artists on stage, the event—co-financed by the Programa FEDER Andalucía 2021-2027—will showcase the diversity of genres from Andalucía, from traditional flamenco to contemporary Latin music rhythms, and is presented by la Junta de Andalucía and sponsored by the Iberian ham brand Enrique Tomás. Spanning centuries of creativity and innovation, the event will recognize Andalucía’s enduring influence on global music, celebrating both the legends who have passed away and today’s unparalleled icons.

Macarena Moreno and the team from The Latin Recording Academy, led by Ayleen Figueras, oversee executive production; Carlos Narea will handle musical production under the direction of Pablo Cebrián. Tickets go on sale today via the Cartuja Center CITE website, and funds raised will support the region’s musical development.

The Latin Recording Academy and la Junta de Andalucía continue to celebrate Latin music in Andalucía, following the success of last year’s Latin GRAMMY® Celebra: Paco de Lucía event, in Cádiz, and the Latin GRAMMY® Session, in Málaga.

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ABOUT THE LATIN RECORDING ACADEMY:

The Latin Recording Academy® is a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing, celebrating, honoring and elevating Latin music and its creators. Established as the global authority on Latin music, the membership-based organization composed of music professionals, produces the annual Latin GRAMMY Awards®, The Biggest Night in Latin Music®, which honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences, in addition to providing educational and outreach programs for the music community through its Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation®. For more information, please visit LatinGRAMMY.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS / EQUIPO SINGULAR:

María García: maria.garcia@equiposingular.com

Victoria Alonso: victoria.alonso@equiposingular.com

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® and Fundación Puertas Abiertas joined forces to offer a live educational program

Click here to download image

Credit: Luis González.Heif/Fundación Puertas Abiertas

MIAMI (JULY 22, 2025) — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® and Fundación Puertas Abiertas, established and presided over by the renowned songwriter Erika Ender—Latin GRAMMY® winner, GRAMMY® nominee, and a member of The Latin Recording Academy®’s Board of Trustees—hosted an educational experience at Panama’s Ciudad de las Artes to inspire a new generation of Latin music creators.

This marked the 43rd Latin GRAMMY In The Schools™ program organized by the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, which included a donation of musical instruments to young students, performances, and a special appearance by Ender, along with a Q&A session with Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, Executive Director of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation.

Ciudad de las Artes is an arts and training facility that is home to the Network of Choirs and Orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the National Ballet of Panama, among others, promoting music, inspiration, and learning while uniting art with social engagement.

“It's a pleasure to celebrate the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation event in Panama, joining forces with my foundation, Fundación Puertas Abiertas, and work together, hand in hand to support youth,” said Ender. “Supporting education, music, and Panamanian talent is both a duty and an honor, and I am proud to be able to make this donation of instruments to the Network of Choirs and Orchestras and connect generations through music in a place as magical as Ciudad de las Artes.”

“Creating spaces to provide opportunities to promote Latin music and its culture is key to our mission,” said Egusquiza. “We are grateful to Fundación Puertas Abiertas and Erika Ender for welcoming us to Panama and for allowing us to work together to empower the future generation of Latin music creators.”

Since its inception, the Latin GRAMMY In The Schools program has benefited educational institutions in various cities across the United States, including Aransas Pass, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Antonio, as well as internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; Panama City, Panama, Arecibo, Humacao, Yauco, and San Juan in Puerto Rico; and Sevilla, Spain.

Latin GRAMMY In The Schools is an educational program that informs and connects music students with professionals in the Latin music industry, supporting educational music departments that face financial limitations. The Foundation invites professional musicians, artists, and sound engineers to visit middle and high schools, universities, or music education institutions and share their personal stories and experiences with students, highlighting the effort it takes to overcome career obstacles. The goal is for students to learn to optimize the educational opportunities presented to them, giving them an advantage and strong academic preparation to be able to compete in the music industry.

Among the artists who have participated in this program are: Ángela Aguilar, David Bisbal, Marilina Bertoldi, Miguel Bosé, Calle 13, Pedro Capó, Camilo, Chino & Nacho, Chiquis, Luis Coronel, Silvestre Dangond, Joss Favela, Fonseca, Luis Fonsi, El Fantasma, Becky G, Karol G, Kany García, Gente de Zona, Leslie Grace, Carlos Jean, Jesse & Joy, Natalia Lafourcade, Poncho Lizárraga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mau y Ricky, Claudia Montero, Ednita Nazario, Christian Nodal, Laura Pausini, Ángel "Cucco" Peña, Mireya Ramos, Prince Royce, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Noel Scharjris, Olga Tañón, Thalía, Christian Serratos, Diego Torres, Carlos Vives, Wisin, and Sebastián Yatra.

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ABOUT ERIKA ENDER:

A pioneer in the global music industry, Erika Ender stands as one of the most decorated and versatile creators of all time. As a songwriter, artist, producer, communicator, and philanthropist, she has penned over 40 #1 hits across a broad spectrum of genres, including the most globally successful song in history, “Despacito.” With more than 200 albums featuring her compositions and nearly 400 prestigious awards—including Latin GRAMMYs® and Billboard Awards—she ranks among the most honored Latin songwriters of all time. Her catalog has earned 16 Diamond certifications, 177 multi-Platinum, and 181 Gold awards across multiple countries, cementing her legacy as both an artistic and commercial powerhouse. A member of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognized by Forbes as one of Central America's Most Powerful Women, and honored with a Guinness World Record™ for her innovative philanthropic initiative “TALENPRO”—the flagship project of her Fundación Puertas Abiertas, established in 2009—she has transformed over 50,000 lives through educational programs, renovated learning environments, university scholarships, early childhood nutrition programs, and more. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Erika Ender transcends music: she is a visionary who shapes the world with every note, word, and action. For more information: www.erikaender.com.

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 global champion of music education and empowering communities through Latin music and culture. In 2024, the Foundation celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and during the last decade, it has fostered the next generation of Latin music creators through scholarships, education programs and grants that advance Latin music and celebrate its rich cultural heritage. To date, the Foundation has donated more than $12.5 million with the support of The Latin Recording Academy’s members, artists, corporate sponsors and other generous donors. For additional information or to donate, please visit latingrammyculturalfoundation.org or our Facebook page. And follow us @latingrammyfdn on X and Instagram, and at Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

The Latin Recording Academy

Nathalie Alberto

Nathalie.alberto@grammy.com

Fundación Puertas Abiertas

Ilka Ender

ilka@funpaee.org