Victor Kolstee Award
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The Victor Kolstee Award was created to honour the memory of our beloved Musical Director Victor Kolstee and his vast contributions to the flamenco art form. Throughout his life, he spread his love and passion for flamenco and was a key player in developing Canada’s appreciation for flamenco dance and music.
Flamenco Rosario wants to ensure the ongoing encouragement of flamenco musicians in Canada and has created a biennial award for Canadian flamenco musicians to pursue their professional development.
“Flamenco has given me everything—my wife, my kids, my work.” ~ Victor Kolstee
The Victor Kolstee Award was established in 2023 to encouragement aspiring flamenco guitarists to refine their musical skills, technical capacity and interpretive range. The award will recognize an emerging artist in the field of flamenco performance. It will provide financial support for the award recipient to explore new and emergent techniques, broaden the improvisational range and elevate her/his general artistic mastery.
In memory of Victor Kolstee ~ A life passionately lived
The Victor Kolstee Award was created to honour the memory of our beloved Musical Director Victor Kolstee and his vast contributions to the flamenco art form. Throughout his life, he spread his love and passion for flamenco and was a key player in developing Canada’s appreciation for flamenco dance and music.
Flamenco Rosario wants to ensure the ongoing encouragement of flamenco musicians in Canada and has created a biennial award for Canadian flamenco musicians to pursue their professional development.
“Flamenco has given me everything—my wife, my kids, my work.” ~ Victor Kolstee
The Victor Kolstee Award was established in 2023 to encouragement aspiring flamenco guitarists to refine their musical skills, technical capacity and interpretive range. The award will recognize an emerging artist in the field of flamenco performance. It will provide financial support for the award recipient to explore new and emergent techniques, broaden the improvisational range and elevate her/his general artistic mastery.
2026 call for applications...
The Rosario Ancer Flamenco Arts Society encourages all emerging* (at least 2 years of experience) and mid-career flamenco guitarists living in Canada to apply to
The Biannual Victor Kolstee Award 2026
Award: $5,000To apply, please email the following to applyflamencorosario@gmail.com with the subject line “Victor Kolstee Award Application 2025”. Please also include:
—A letter explaining your intentions in applying for the award, and why you believe you are a good candidate. Include where you are based in Canada.
—Project description.
—Curriculum Vitae.
—A 3-5 minute video/audio of your musical performance.
*Definition of emergent – The Victor Kolstee Award seeks to support artists that are in the developmental stage of their artistry. The intent of the award is to encourage a deeper immersion into flamenco tradition so as to align the aspiring individual with her/his artistic trajectory. While it is often difficult to make a clear distinction between emergent and established artist preference will be given to those applicants who are able to outline a well-defined plan of work that will enhance existing skills and refine the art of guitar playing as well as accompaniment to canto and baile. Flamenco performance highlights and is driven by the strong musical connection between both the guitarist and the ensemble as well as the artist and the audience. Both relationships seek to elevate the emotional level of the experience through skillful improvisation and strong technical skills. The adjudication committee will seek to select artists that understand the essence of those relationships and that are wanting to work/study with established senior artists that may deepen that understanding and enrich their musical capacity.
We look forward to receiving your application. Please contact info@flamencorosario.org if you have questions about the award.
Submission Deadline: December 31st, 2025.
Awardee Announcement: February 10th, 2026.
2024 Awardee
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The jurors noted that she has an excellent grasp on what steps she needs to undertake to propel her flamenco musical interpretation and technique to a new level of professionalism and depth. She clearly identified the individuals that she believes will inspire and guide her next artistic stage and outlined a plan of study and work that can enable her to achieve her goals. Her intended musical journey is an ideal fit to the spirit and intent of this award.
The official bestowal of the Inaugural Victor Kolstee Award took place during the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival 2024.
Flamenco Rosario extends our heartfelt congratulations to Iminah Kani, a talented emerging artist.
photo Fiona Samson
The jurors noted that she has an excellent grasp on what steps she needs to undertake to propel her flamenco musical interpretation and technique to a new level of professionalism and depth. She clearly identified the individuals that she believes will inspire and guide her next artistic stage and outlined a plan of study and work that can enable her to achieve her goals. Her intended musical journey is an ideal fit to the spirit and intent of this award.
The official bestowal of the Inaugural Victor Kolstee Award took place during the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival 2024.
The Victor Kolstee Award is supported by The Victor & Rosario Kolstee Fund, administered by the Vancouver Foundation. Donations to the fund will help to secure the success of flamenco arts and will continue the legacy of Victor for generations of flamenco musicians to come. The fund also receives match funding through Canada Cultural Endowment Initiatives.