Preparations for Cuba’s largest recording industry fair, Cubadisco 2012, began in Havana this week well in advance to create the proper atmosphere for such an important artistic event.

The gathering, scheduled to run from May 19 through 26, will be dedicated to guitar, its local versions the “tres” and the “laud” and their relatives in Latin America.

Under the slogan Cuba, the Island of One Thousand Strings, Cubadisco 2012’s President of Honor will be maestro Leo Brouwer, the most important and representative Cuban guitarist in the world.

The recording industry fair will also have an accompanying guitar competition, whose guidelines will be revealed shortly, with provincial, regional and national competitions in Cuba.

Maestros who have transcended the arbitrary division between the classical and the popular have joined Brouwer in the effort, including Jesús Ortega and José A. Chicoy.

The competition will honor two essential Cuban guitar maestros Vicente González Rubiera, Guyún (1908–1987) and Ñico Rojas (1921–2008).