Monday, November 23, 2015

Featured Luthier of the day - Fructuoso Zalapa - Wonderful instrument !


Fructuoso Zalapa Luna was born in 1961 in the city of Paracho, Michoacan State, Mexico, within a family of skilled guitar maker where he began his apprenticeship at the age of 10. In his late teens he went to Spain where he spent several years studying with many luthiers including the famous Felix Manzanero and Manuel Caceres.




His studies continued in the late 1980s in Mexico City at the National Music Conservatory. Several awards for his instruments followed, including the First Prize for Development in National Competition Concert Guitars Guitar-Makers (1990, 1991, 1992 and 2002), the famous Mexican national scope event held every year in Paracho. In 1993 Zalapa awarded First Prize for his guitar-making in the National Competition for handicrafts organized by FONART, the Mexican government Agency for the Development of Arts and Crafts. FONART prize is the most prestigious award for handicrafts in Mexico.

In the same year he was also awarded First Prize for Excellence in the craft by the Mexican State of Michoacan in the competition held in the city of Uruapan. In 1995, Zalapa will win another prestigious First Prize for Excellence in the craft, given this time by the State of Veracruz in the competition in the city of the same name. International recognition did not attract the attention of others Jose Romanillos, and under Romanillos Zalapa studies in 1995 led to Romanillos him add his own signature label Zalapa guitar made under his supervision for excellence and in accordance with the standards demanded Romanillos. Despite all these achievements, Zalapa continue to seek advice and internships yet another major builders from around the world.

In 1996 he completed the course of instruction given by the US renowned luthier Thomas Humphrey in Paracho and in 1997 set off once again to Spain, to study under the legendary Granada maker Antonio Raya Pardo




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