It’s one thing to be honored by the town hall, the provincial government or the powers that be but another thing entirely to have your peers recogise you and your work while you are still able to do it. The Spanish association of Luthiers and Bow-makers (AELAP) pays hommage to José Ángel Chacón Tenllado today. Chacón, in addition to being a great luthier, created a school of lutherie in Málaga and started many young people on the road to a successful career in lutherie. I was one of those eager students many years ago.
Over the years José Ángel Chacón has received awards such as the Silver medal of the Fine Arts from the spanish government, the first Master Artisan title to a luthier from the regional andalusian government and was the first luthier to serve in the Andalusian Artisan Committee. He has taught at the University of Granada, has written several books about lutherie, has served as president of AELAP and is now honorary president. However, the true testament to his human quality is the number of great instruments, restauraciones, students, friends and pure passion that we see around him to this day. Thank you maestro.