Interpreter and composer.
Born in Havana, Cuba, on January 13, 1960. "Kiki" Corona began his music studies in 1972 at the "Alejandro García Caturla" Conservatory, specializing in guitar playing under the guidance of professors Clara Nicola and Olga Recio.
In 1976 he joined the Nueva Trova Movement with the group "Río Negro", singing --in duet with Xiomara Laugart-- songs of the Latin American musical repertoire, directed by professor Luis Ramírez Zúñiga. By 1978 he joined the group "Canto Libre", at the "Manolito Aguiar" Instituto Preuniversitario of Marianao, where he started his career as composer.
At this time, he studied under the guidance of professors Abelardo Bosh, Carlos Emilio Morales, Leopoldina Núñez, Armando Romeu who taught him composition, orchestration, counterpoint, harmony and popular guitar classes.
Later, at the University of Havana, together with Pável Urquiza he formed the group "Yara", obtaining different interpretation prizes in se
veral Cuban provincial and national festivals of amateurs artists from Cuban universities.
Since 1983, his cultural activities became more active at national level, performing together with professional artists and joining the "Ecos" coral octet directed by the singer and teacher Argelia Fragoso.
He started composing incidental music for tv and radio serial programs. Later on (from 1984 to 1986) he presented his works at different artistic contests, and was awarded several prizes.
Since September 1988, he joined the group "Mayohuacán" as a singer and composer, performing in Cuba and abroad. This group often performed the sound-track composed by Kiki Corona for the Cuban Television and for TV Azteca until 1991, when he created his own project including a musical group.
Kiki Corona has also composed music for the cinema, such as the sound-track for the film Sabor Latino, an ICAIC, Tutor Cine and Tabasco Films co-production from Cuba, Spain and Mexico respectively.
As a singer, he has been invited to participate in discographic projects in Brazil, together with important artists like Lela Piñeiros, Claudio Nussi, Marco André, and Paolo Vallessi in Italy.
Among the main prizes received along his career, are:
1983. Award granted by the cultural magazine Caimán Barbudo. Mention of the Jury for his musical composition Te amé junto a la brisa, finalist at the "Adolfo Guzmán" Cuban Music Contest, interpreted by Anabel López. Music Prize at the Teatro de La Habana Fourth Festival for the sound-track of the play Asesinato en la Playita de 16.
1986. Composition Second Prize, Mention of the Jury and other awards granted by different media and specialists, for two songs finalists at the "Adolfo Guzmán" Cuban Music Contest, becoming the only musical author that, up to that moment, had been selected by the jury with two works.
2001- Nomination for Cubadisco Prize, the most important of Cuban discography, in the category of Children Music with the CD Nanas para ti, and in the category of Song with the CD Corona canta a Corona.
