This morning, the Ministry of Culture reported that the National Award for Musical Arts 2024, fell to the teacher Valentin Trujillo (91), one of the most recognized artists in the country for his career in both music and television. The ceremony was led by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Carolina Arredondo Marzan, following the jury’s deliberation on the same day.
The verdict was resolved by a jury that included Minister Arredondo; the rector of the University of Chile, Rosa Devés; an academic appointed by the Council of Rectors, Carlos González Morales, rector of the University of Playa Ancha (UPLA); a representative of the Chilean Academy of Fine Arts: Carmen Luisa Letelier; two representatives of the National Council of Cultures, Arts and Heritage: Verónica Villarroel González and Sergio González Morales; in addition to the last person awarded: Elisa Avendaño Curaqueo.
“I have to say that the emotion is very strong, but it is rich,” said an emotional Trujillo upon receiving it.If I had to name the people who made it possible for this 91-year-old man and three months to receive the award on this occasion, I owe a lot to many people, too many people. Everyone, everyone who is on this planet, those who are no longer here, helped me to have a beautiful career. My health has been quite good, I am a 91-year-old man, but I feel like I am 93 (laughs),” and added: “I regret to say that I do not want to give names of thanks, because I am afraid that I could hurt many people who did a lot for me.”
The pianist thanked: “My lifelong partner, Aida, two of my four children, Cecilia and Jimena, Valentín and Roberto,” and added a relevant detail: “for the first time it is given to a popular musician.”
PHOTO: Aton.
Valentín Trujillo’s story was something that had been requested for a long time. In fact, last Tuesday, June 25, it was published on the pages of The Third a Letter to the Director, signed by musicians of different generations and styles: Mario Mutis, Gloria Simonetti, Claudio Narea, Javiera Parra and Joe Vasconcellos. With the title of Lost Opportunitythe signatories noted: “The Chilean State has repeatedly passed up the opportunity to award him the National Prize for Musical Arts (…) Valentín Trujillo more than deserves this recognition. He embodies the Chilean musician in the broadest sense of the word.”
The musician himself mentioned it last June at the Pulsar Awards ceremony, promoted by the SCD, the trade association that he himself helped found in 1987. “I would feel very honored to know that for Chile, for the first time, an eminently popular musician, of which I am a man who has been a part for so many years, would receive an award,” he said during the ceremony televised by TVN and while receiving the Award for the Promotion and Diffusion of Music.
In fact, the National Prize for Musical Arts of Chile has generally been elusive with the most popular and massive artists, with only Margot Loyola and Vicente Bianchi as examples of that category in its more than three decades of existence.
Historical Archive – Cedoc Copesa
Born in 1933, he taught himself to play the piano at the age of 4. But in 1940, at the age of 7, he entered to study music, harmony and composition at the National Conservatory of Music in Santiago, where he remained until 1952. He always had a nod towards popular music, since in 1942 he participated in the musical accompaniment of various radio programs. Cooperative, Corporation (I’m looking for talents, between 1957 and 1964) and Portals.
But his career took a leap forward in 1962 when he became director of the orchestra of the popular program Giant Saturdaywhere he formed an endearing duo with Don Francisco, still remembered mainly by older people. She continued with him until the internationalisation of the space in Miami, even reaching its end in 2015.
Historical Archive – Cedoc Copesa
He also accompanied the actor Jorge Guerra in the children’s program Pin-Pon. He also participated in The world of Professor Rossa, also starring in a hilarious leaked video that showed the cast -Guru Guru included- using language inappropriate for children. As a musician, he has recorded albums with Christian Cuturrufo and to Angel Parra Trio.
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Although in the past he was much more transversal: in the 60s, he participated in both Cecilia’s and Los Huasos Quincheros’ records, demonstrating early on his ability to cover different types of musical languages. It was his most prolific period as an artist.
Historical Archive – Cedoc Copesa
Since those times as an orchestra conductor, Trujillo maintained a work discipline, This is what he recalled in a conversation with this media: “I was not a Hindu saint, but I naturally had the discipline that a professional should have. I also had responsibilities from a very young age. I was an orchestra conductor and the conductor could not just arrive ready-made; you have to have the discipline that allows you to keep to a schedule. For the rehearsal to really start at 10, you have to arrive at 9:30. I told my fellow musicians, ‘You are a trumpet player, you have to arrive, take out the trumpet, clean it and do a little lip practice. If you arrive at 10, I will only be able to start at 10:30 and that is no good for me.’
In the book A life in musicValentín Trujillo reviewed with Darío Oses several milestones of his career and He recalled that once he learned of the murder of Victor Jara he remained in hiding for 17 days.. Until, on the orders of Benjamín Mackenna, Secretary of Culture of the Military Junta and leader of Los Huasos Quincheros, the musician Arturo Giolito informed him that there was nothing against him and that he could move around freely. That, due to its known affiliation to the Communist Party of Chilethe club he signed for in 2017.
“After the coup, I had to turn to friends because I never felt guilty about anything, but go make them understand. Victor Jara, what was he guilty of to be killed in that way? Was he armed? Was he shooting?He had his songs, I remember you Amanda, Luchín, the Prayer to a farmer I recorded it with Cecilia, without any intention other than to make a nice song. I have never taken my profession to publicly discuss politics and I am not going to do so. I have my opinion, I claim the legitimate right to think, maybe I think on the wrong side, but not bloodthirsty,” he recalled. Cult.
Historical archive – Cedoc Copesa
After the 1973 coup, and when his time on TV had been cancelled, Trujillo was rescued again by Don Francisco. One afternoon when he was walking through the centre of the capital, Mario Kreutzberger saw him and invited him to join Channel 13 again. That was the beginning of a new era for the pianist.
Valentín Trujillo has also been present at times of the country’s political institutionalitysuch as the closing of the Constitutional Convention in 2022; and at the event for the 50th anniversary of the 1973 coup. On both occasions he played the national anthem on the piano. In the late 1980s, he also founded the Chilean Copyright Society (SCD), for which many local musicians recognize his contribution to the profession.
In 2023, she was awarded the Gabriela Mistral Order of Teaching and Cultural Merit, as well as the award for Outstanding Elderly Person of 2023 by the Geriatrics and Gerontology Society of Chile. But the country’s highest artistic recognition, the National Prize for Musical Arts, has eluded him. He was presented as a candidate in 2022, but the seat was ultimately awarded to researcher Elisa Avendaño Curaqueo.
According to Law No. 19,169, which governs the delivery of national awards, Trujillo He receives a diploma, a sum exceeding 23 million pesos and a monthly pension for life. equivalent to 20 Monthly Tax Units (about $1,300,000 pesos).
Historical Archive – Cedoc Copesa
Established as a single award since 1992, based on the former National Art Prize, the National Prize for Musical Arts is awarded every two years, as is the case for literature. Traditionally, it is an award that usually recognizes artists linked to classical music, with the exception of cases such as Margot Loyola and Vicente Bianchi, who crossed over into popular music.
