What we do
Discover how Fundación Alhambra Guitarras promotes Spanish guitar culture through music production, artist development, and an active, international cultural agenda.
Culture and guitar: the heart of our Foundation
The guitar as a cultural expression
The culture of the Spanish guitar goes beyond technique and history: it is a way of seeing and understanding the world.
From its popular roots to its presence in academic and contemporary music, the guitar has been—and continues to be—a bridge connecting generations, styles, places, and emotions.
At the Foundation, we regard it as a living tool that expresses art and strengthens culture. That is why every cultural activity we undertake aims to preserve, reinvent, and expand the meaning and sound the guitar holds for everyone.
The Foundation’s overarching objective is to promote the submission of the file seeking UNESCO recognition of the Spanish guitar and its cultural tradition as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Events
CIGA
Alhambra International Guitar Competition
Take part in CIGA: one of the most prestigious international competitions dedicated to the Spanish guitar.
CIGA is one of the Foundation’s cultural pillars. Held every year in Valencia, it has become one of the most widely recognised guitar competitions worldwide. It attracts guitarists from more than 20 countries and offers cash prizes, recordings, and professional touring opportunities. This competition not only helps discover new talent, but also showcases the beauty and richness of the Spanish guitar at its highest level.
WHAT IS CIGA
The Alhambra International Guitar Competition (CIGA) is one of the most renowned contests in the guitar world. Organised every two years by Fundación Alhambra Guitarras since 1990, its goal is to foster excellence in Spanish guitar performance and help bring its artists to the international stage.
Contestants from more than 20 countries
Prestigious international jury
Inclusion of contemporary works and traditional repertoire
Promotional prize on digital and record-label platforms
CIGA Junior
Alhambra International Guitar Competition for Young People
Take part in the 12th edition of the Alhambra International Guitar Competition for Young People (CIGA Junior) in Alicante. Discover dates, categories, rules, and prizes.
The Alhambra International Guitar Competition for Young People aims to inspire, support, and showcase new generations of guitarists. In addition to offering prizes such as scholarships, instruments, and concerts, we accompany participants at every stage of the process, supporting their artistic growth and development. It is a true commitment to the future, where each young artist has the opportunity to become the protagonist of their own musical journey.
A competition to inspire new generations
Fundación Alhambra Guitarras announces the 12th Alhambra International Guitar Competition for Young People (CIGA Junior), with the aim of encouraging talent and artistic vocation among young guitarists.
It will take place from 21 to 22 November 2025 at the “Óscar Esplá” Conservatorio Superior de Música in Alicante (Spain), with an online qualifying round and an in-person final open to the public.
A competition that not only awards prizes, but also drives careers forward.
Discover Fundación Alhambra’s Spanish guitar music education programmes: training, resources, scholarships, and courses for every stage.
Music education with the Spanish guitar at its core
The Foundation’s educational approach
At Fundación Alhambra Guitarras, education is not merely an add-on; it is at the heart of everything we do.
We believe the Spanish guitar is far more than an instrument: it is a tool that can teach us and accompany us at every stage of our growth, both personal and professional.
Our guitar teaching programmes are designed with care and passion and are tailored to different levels—from those who start as children to those seeking more advanced specialisation.
We are guided by education that transforms: we aim to offer fair access and real opportunities for everyone, combining an international vision with deep cultural roots that enrich every learning process.
PEPITA, MY FIRST GUITAR
Pepita is not just a guitar; it is a way for children to approach music in a simple and enjoyable manner.
Designed for children aged 5 to 9, this educational tool is the result of joint work by luthiers, teachers, pedagogues, and child health professionals.
It is an innovative proposal that makes Spanish-guitar music education accessible from an early age, combining beauty, quality, and a social dimension that seeks to include everyone.
SCHOOLS
The Foundation works with music schools, conservatoires, and educational centres to ensure the guitar has a place in the classroom, providing resources, support, and initiatives that truly add value.
We believe music education should be accessible, high-quality, and rooted in recognition of our culture. That is why we strive to connect art, school, and community—building bridges that make all of this possible.
MASTER’S PROGRAMME
We are committed to offering excellence in classical guitar training through the Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance at the University of Alicante. It is a top-level educational experience, supported by outstanding artists such as David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, and Fabio Zanon.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Fundación Alhambra Guitarras offers scholarship programmes designed for students at all levels who wish to continue learning and growing musically, with the support of an institution that is genuinely committed.
Our aim is that talent should have no limits: regardless of where you come from or how much you can afford, everyone should have the opportunity to play and enjoy the guitar. Because, ultimately, the guitar can also be a way to create fairness and open paths towards a better future.
TEACHERS’ PROGRAMME
Joining the Alhambra Teachers’ Programme means becoming part of a community that truly values, supports, and places teachers’ work at the centre of the Spanish guitar world.
Until now, most institutional support has been oriented only towards students. We decided to change that.
Because we know a guitarist’s journey begins with a teacher who believed in their talent and supported them at the right moment. You, too, deserve a space that supports you, accompanies you, and celebrates your work.
UNITED FOR THE SPANISH GUITAR
United for the Spanish Guitar is an open space for everyone who lives, teaches, or creates with the guitar.
More than just a content archive, it is a vibrant community where tradition and innovation come together. A place where we can learn and grow together across generations and styles.
Discover how Fundación Alhambra Guitarras drives social action through the Spanish guitar: musical projects for inclusion, dignity, and cultural change.
Music as a tool for inclusion
At the Foundation, we believe the Spanish guitar can change lives.
It is not only about training musicians, but also about bringing music to those who need it most.
Our social action through the Spanish guitar is a commitment to dignity, active listening, expression, and human support. Our commitment is clear: we want everyone to have the opportunity to connect with this rich and valuable culture, and for this personal growth to contribute to social development, health, and overall wellbeing.
Guitars at School
Guitars at School is an established programme created by Rotary Club Alicante Costa Blanca with the support of Fundación Alhambra Guitarras.
Its main objective is to improve self-esteem and academic performance among vulnerable adolescents in Alicante or those at risk of social exclusion, using music—and especially classical guitar—as an educational tool for personal growth. Through a practical, enjoyable, and participatory approach, the programme seeks to make the guitar an instrument in the service of teaching, motivation, and inclusion, with extraordinary results.
Learn more on the Rotary Club Alicante Costa Blanca website
Guitars in Prison
The Guitars in Prison project was born out of a collaboration with teachers at the adult education centre at Picassent Prison (Valencia). It was launched as a pilot project in 2024 with the aim of introducing inmates to the guitar as a means of training, expression and social reintegration, promoting creativity, discipline and self-esteem, and offering inmates an enriching experience that would contribute positively to their personal development and a better outlook on life.
“Pepita, My First Guitar” programme for children with neurodevelopmental and related conditions
Musical performance offers significant benefits for individuals with a range of conditions (ADHD, ASD, etc.), as it stimulates attention, memory, and impulse control. It also supports communication, emotional expression, and social skills, helping to reduce anxiety and improve self-regulation. Overall, musical practice contributes to cognitive, emotional, and social development, enhancing wellbeing and inclusion for those with these conditions.
For this reason, Fundación Guitarras Alhambra has initiated a process of research and fundraising to promote a musical performance programme using our children’s guitar “Pepita”. If you would like to collaborate with us on this programme, please contact us at: educa@fundacionalhambraguitarras.org
Guitar-based rehabilitation programme for older adults
At Fundación Guitarras Alhambra, we are convinced that musical performance is a highly valuable therapeutic tool in recovery and rehabilitation processes for older adults, as it stimulates memory, attention, and coordination, supports brain plasticity, and helps maintain cognitive function. It also improves emotional wellbeing and socialisation, reducing anxiety and depression. Overall, it contributes to a better quality of life and comprehensive wellbeing in older age.
For this reason, Fundación Alhambra Guitarras has set up an interdisciplinary working group to define the lines of action for a new travelling programme offering rehabilitation workshops through the guitar in residential care homes. If you are interested in collaborating, you can email us at: direccion@fundacionalhambraguitarras.org
Would you like to collaborate with us?
If you are part of an organisation that works with vulnerable groups or rehabilitation and health programmes and you believe in the educational and cultural power of music, we can design a meaningful, purpose-driven project together.