On Monday morning June 9th, 2003 at the University of Alcalá de Henares in Madrid, flamenco singer Carmen Linares was named honorary faculty member of the University of the Arts, a distinction that the Spanish Asociación de Artistas awards in cooperation with the University of Alcalá (Madrid) to individuals who have distinguished themselves with professional and humanitarian endeavors in the realm of culture, law and the arts.
Carmen received this award along with seven other artists including singers
Georges Moustaki and Spain's Raphael. When the singer from Jaén
thanked the assembly for having been considered worthy of the honor, she
expressed her desire to continue devoting her life to flamenco: «I
shall continue working and I am thankful for the opportunity life has
given me by putting flamenco music in my path, a music which I shall continue
to be dedicated to in order to dignify it and continue transmitting it
to the world.»
Guitarist Juan Habichuela and singer José Menese became honorary
faculty members when they received this title in earlier editions. It
is always good news when the art of flamenco continues to be recognized
at the university level.
