The Orquesta Ciudad de La Mancha is one of the most prestigious plucked-string ensembles at the national level. Founded in 2011 in Campo de Criptana under the baton of Fernando Bustamante—its current artistic director—the orchestra’s permanent roster today is made up of specialist professors in guitar and plectrum instruments from different parts of Spain.

Over the years, the orchestra has developed an increasingly prominent career built on high individual quality, refined chamber-music work, as well as the difficulty and originality of its programming.

They have performed concerts throughout Spain, Italy, and Portugal, collaborating with soloists such as Antonio Serrano, Juan Antonio Sanabria, Fetén Fetén, and Abraham Cupeiro.

The orchestra also stands out for its frequent collaboration with composer Sonia Megías, an example being their participation in the project Perpetuum Mobile, held between 2019 and 2020 at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

In addition to contemporary music, the orchestra’s versatile repertoire includes original works for plectrum and guitar ensembles, Spanish music, and even pieces from jazz and flamenco. Examples include several productions presented alongside singers, solo instruments, narrators, choir, and even sand-art specialists. Among these productions are Mediterráneo. Canto al mar, Lorca, Invitación a un Viaje Sonoro, Danzando, and Sueños de Arena.

Alongside its performance activity, in 2020 the orchestra created Arte entre Gigantes, a project that combines culture and pedagogy. The initiative has grown year after year and, since its first edition, has been very well received by both audiences and critics.

Duo Denicija is a classical guitar duo founded by Macedonian guitarists Anastasija Mileska and Aleksandar Andrijevski. The duo was formed during their studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Cologne in Germany, where both musicians earned their solo bachelor and master studies, as well as their master studies in chamber music, in the class of Prof. Gerhard Reichenbach.

Beyond their formal education, they took part in masterclasses with internationally recognized guitarists including Łukasz Kuropaczewski, Douglas Lora, Anellio Desiderio, Tillman Hoppstock, Meng Su, Zoran Dukić and others.

Both Anastasija and Aleksandar have been individually awarded dozens of first prizes at national and international guitar competitions as soloists. Since forming Duo Denicija, they have received several awards, including First Prize at the International Competition Ida Presti (2018), First Prize at the International Competition Nordhorn (2019), and a Special Prize for the best interpretation of a set piece by Dale Kavanagh at the International Guitar Competition Iserlohn (2025).

Since forming, they have performed across Europe and the USA, including venues such as the Historische Stadthalle in Wuppertal, the Riksdag in Stockholm, and Teatro di Marcello in Rome. They have also participated in “Gitarristenpodium Zwolle” in the Netherlands and gave the American premiere of the music from “DoMa” in New York, USA.

Their repertoire covers a wide range of styles, from Baroque and Classical music to contemporary works and their own transcriptions, with a particular focus on commissioning new compositions.

In addition to their performance activity, they have given masterclasses at international events including Radevormwalder Gitarrentage, Gitarristenpodium Zwolle, and the Ohrid Guitar Days.