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The Cuban-American trumpeter Arturo Sandoval will receive the Order of Isabella the Catholic next Tuesday, May 19, one of the highest civil honors in the Kingdom of Spain. The musician himself announced the news this Friday on his Facebook account, with visible emotion.
"With deep emotion and tremendous gratitude, I wish to share that on May 19th, I will have the immense honor of officially receiving the Order of Isabella the Catholic, one of the highest distinctions awarded by the Kingdom of Spain," Sandoval wrote.
The decoration will be presented to him by the consul of Spain, in an event that the musician described as "profoundly special and moving."
"As a musician, as a Cuban, and as a human being who has dedicated his entire life to music, I never imagined I would experience something so significant," he added.
Sandoval expressed his gratitude to King Felipe VI, the Spanish government, and those who made this honor possible, and he wanted to share this recognition with his family, friends, musicians, and supporters throughout his career.
The Order of Isabella the Catholic, founded by Fernando VII on March 14, 1815, is one of the oldest and most prestigious civil decorations in Spain. Its current purpose, according to Royal Decree 2395/1998, is to reward extraordinary civil behavior carried out by Spanish or foreign individuals that contribute to benefiting Spain or enhancing its relations with the international community.
Among the Latin American artists who have received this distinction is Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra, who received the Encomienda in February 2025.
The award adds to others granted to the renowned Cuban musician. In November 2023, he received the Latin Grammy for Musical Excellence at a ceremony held in Seville, and in December 2024, he was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, one of the highest recognitions in the arts in the United States.
Born in Artemisa, Cuba, in 1949, Sandoval was a co-founder of Irakere alongside Chucho Valdés and Paquito D'Rivera in 1973. In July 1990, during a tour in Rome with the orchestra of his mentor Dizzy Gillespie, he requested political asylum and exiled himself in Miami, where he built a career of global prominence.
His accolades include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by Barack Obama in 2013 —the highest civilian honor in the United States—, the National Medal of Arts in 2021, multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy awards, an Emmy, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The musician concluded his message with a personal reflection: "I thank God every day for the blessings I have received, and this is one of them that I will cherish in my heart forever."
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