The Ajuntament de Calvià has announced the recipients of the honorary awards for the 24th edition of the Rei en Jaume Awards. The ceremony will take place during a gala on 30 October at the Sala Palmanova.
This prestigious event, which includes competitive categories for narrative and poetry in both Spanish and Catalan, as well as young storytelling, painting, and photography, will honour two key figures in the local identity and culture this year: painter Antoni Alzamora and the Associació Cultural Musical Pere Josep Canyelles.
Celebrating 40 years of cultural contribution
The Associació Cultural Musical Pere Josep Canyelles marks its 40th anniversary as a cornerstone of the artistic community in Calvià. Named after mossèn Pere Josep Cañellas, a priest, musician, and composer born in Calvià in 1845, the association was established following a municipal plenary session in May 1984, which approved the creation of a music school and a municipal band.
Formally constituted in 1986, the association has expanded significantly over the years. Initially starting with a band and music school, it later introduced the Escola de Ball de Bot and, in 1987, launched the Cor de Calvià, which made its public debut in 1988. Today, the association encompasses the Escola de Música, the Banda Municipal, the Escola de Ball de Bot, the Cor de Calvià, the Colla de Xeremiers, and the Gegants de Calvià, forming an integral part of Calvià's living tradition.
Antoni Alzamora: a lasting legacy
The Ajuntament will posthumously award Antoni Alzamora (Artà, 1933 – Calvià, 2026), one of the most prominent painters of his generation, who had been a resident of Calvià since the age of 18. A disciple of master Ramón Nadal Horrach, Alzamora's legacy extends beyond painting, offering an enduring vision of the Mallorcan countryside and rural life.
Much of his landscape work is displayed in the municipal council's plenary hall and main floor. Throughout his career, Alzamora held numerous solo and group exhibitions in Palma's most prestigious galleries and various municipalities across Mallorca. His talent earned him multiple awards, including gold medals at local competitions in Calvià in 1967 and 1968, the first prize from the Asociación de Bellas Artes (Adeba) in 1982, and recognition from the Asociación de Bellas Artes de Baleares in 1985, along with selection for the esteemed 'Saló de Tardor – Bienal de pintura de Baleares.'
Through these recognitions, Calvià reaffirms its commitment to valuing the talent, effort, and dedication of those who enrich the artistic, musical, and human heritage of the municipality.
