Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas

“A true pioneer”...Classic FM Magazine “and here Dickinson Cardenas' sweet, rounded tone and sensitive phrasing really come to the fore”Gramophone A sophisticated virtuoso, the Havana-born Dickinson Cardenas has performed at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, The Sage Gateshead, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Barbican. He has given live performances on BBC Radio 3 and BBC London. He has also featured at prominent festivals including London Classical Guitar Festival, Oxford Lieder Festival, Ards Guitar Festival (Northern Ireland), Dublin Guitar Week, Hispano-American Guitar Festival (Mexico), Identidades International Guitar Festival (Cuba) and Havana International Guitar Festival. Dickinson Cardenas is widely recognised as an ambassador both for the music and musicians of his native country. In 2008, Ahmed founded Cubafilin Records – a record label dedicated to the exclusive promotion of Cuban musicians and their original works. For nearly ten years, Dickinson Cardenas enjoyed the great privilege of collaborating with the prolific late guitarist and composer - Jose Antonio (Ñico) Rojas. Ahmed transcribed Rojas' extensive unpublished works during this period, and subsequent performances and recordings earned two prizes at the Cubadisco Awards 2009, Best Instrumental Soloist & Best Instrumental Album. The same album was nominated for Best Artist & Best Newcomer in Songlines World Music Magazine, and Best Album & Best Single at the Latin American Music Awards UK. Passionate in his collaboration with other artists, Ahmed has released six albums (“The Bridge”, “Latin Perspective”, “The Havana Suite”, “Canciones del Alma”, “Ben Wragg & Ahmed Dickinson” and “Ahmed Dickinson plays Ñico Rojas”). Dickinson Cardenas graduated from the Superior Institute of Art (ISA Havana) and was awarded a first-class honours degree on the guitar, completing his qualification a year early. In 2005, he moved to London to study with Carlos Bonell and Chris Stell at the Royal College of Music and was awarded prizes including the Royal College of Music Guitar Competition and the Ivor Mairant Guitar Competition. In 2006, supported by The Kramer-Chappell Scholarship and the Mad Hatters Club, he undertook further studies with Robert Brightmore at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Since his arrival in the UK, Dickinson Cardenas has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Ashley Stewart Arts Sponsorship 2011, Concordia Foundation 2008-2009 and Ivor Mairants International guitar Competition 2006. Recent projects include a European tour with Grammy nominee guitarist and composer Eduardo Martín, the world premiere of a guitar and violin concerto with Docklands Sinfonia, recitals with Malta International Arts Festival and live performances at the Royal Opera House with ballet star Carlos Acosta. Ahmed Dickinson teaches classical guitar at London College of Music.