Carmen Grilo

NAME: María del Carmen Grilo Mateos (Carmen Grilo)

PLACE OF BIRTH: Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz

STUDIES: She started the singing studies in 1992 and made her debut at the age of 8 in the cycle “Nuevos valores del cante y el baile” of the flamenco cultural group “El garbanzo”. She performed, besides, in different flamenco groups such as “Los cernícalos”, “La buena gente”, “El viejo agujeta” and the cultural flamenco cycle of the group “Antonio Chacón”.

CAREER: In 1993 she worked in the theatre “Albeniz” in Madrid, giving a solo recital.

In 1995 she performed in the “Peña femenina de Huelva”, in front of artists such as Vargas Llosa, José Sacristán, Fernando Guillén, Francisco Rabal, Paco Toronjo, etc… The same year she participated in the exaltation of “la saeta de Jerez” and she offered a solo recital in the group “Tío José de Paula”.

In 1997 she joined the company of Joaquín Grilo in which she succeeded in the Catalan Palau de la Música and the II Jerez Festival. Besides, she performed in the show “En el candela” and “Jácara” which was released in the IV Jerez Festival and was presented in cities such as Logroño, Córdoba, Valencia, etc…

In 2000 she was called by Manolo Sanlúcar to join his group. She made her debut along with him in Huelva in the show “Tres con duende”.

In 2001 she offered a recital in the “Festival de cante de las minas” and in Palacio de Villavicencio, inside the V Jerez Festival. That same year she participated along with Manolo Sanlúcar in the show “Entre amigos” by José Antonio, director of the Andalusian dance company. She also participated in the show by Joaquín Grilo “De noche”, released in the V Jerez Festival. She also appeared in several TV Shows such as “El vagabundo” by Jesús Quintero, “Una llama viva” by Ortiz Nuevo, and the special “Zambomba de nochebuena”…

In 2002 she offered a recital inside the cycle “XIV Noches de la plazuela” by the group “Los cernícalos” in Jerez de la Frontera. That same year she was awarded with the first saeta prize “Plazuela”, the first saeta prize 2002 of the group “la buena gente” and the first saeta prize to the youngest artist.

Between 2002 and 2003 she toured several theatres around Spain, Europe and Mexico, with the guitar master Manolo Sanlúcar, at the same time she combined her performances with the company of Joaquín Grilo in several national and international theatres such as the theatre la Zarzuela in Madrid, theatre Chaillot in Paris, Grand Theatre of Córdoba and others in different cities of Europe, Japan and the United States.

In 2003 she presented a solo show in the University Menéndez Pelayo in Santander where she succeed.

In 2005 she performed in the festival “Mont de Marsan” along with the Singer José Valencia. In 2006 she performed in the bienal of Seville in the theatre Alameda with Manuel Liñán. In 2007 she performed as a soloist in the bienal of Malaga with Argentina and Pastora Galván in which she succeeded.

The same year, in the Jerez Festival, she singed in a “Singing Café” along with Marina Heredia. She also joined the company “De grana y oro” by MªJosé Franco. They toured several festivals in Los Angeles, France, Finland, Seville, Jerez, etc…. Later, she participated in the shows “Al compás del viento” and “Abriendo puertas”. Since then, she has been working in every show by Joaquín Grilo and performed in the show by Miguel Poveda “Historia de viva voz”.

In 2012 she collaborated in the staging of the show by Manuela Carpio “Con el alma”. Besides, she joined the last show by Joaquín Grilo “La mar de flamenco”. Nowadays, she continues her solo career.

FESTIVALS: II Jerez Festival, IV Jerez Festival, Festival de cante de Las Minas, V Jerez Festival, Festival “Mont de Marsan”, Bienal of Seville, Bienal of Málaga, Festivals in Los Angeles, France, Finland, Seville, Jerez…

AWARDS: First saeta award “Plazuela”, First saeta 2002 of the group “la buena gente”, First saeta award to the youngest artist.