Emilio Díaz Valero (born 1991) is a Spanish flamenco guitar maker in Granada who learned his craft with Francisco Manuel Díaz Sánchez, and winner of second prize for flamenco guitar at the 2026 Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition.
At a Glance
- Born: Almazora, Castellón, Spain, 1991
- Workshop: Granada, Spain (his own since April 2025)
- Studied: flamenco guitar at the Ángel Barrios Professional Conservatory in Granada (2012–2018) and the Rafael Orozco Higher Conservatory in Córdoba (until 2022)
- Trained with: Francisco Manuel Díaz Sánchez, of Granada's Díaz family of guitar makers (from 2019)
- Influences: Antonio de Torres and the Granada school, including Antonio Marín Montero, Francisco Manuel Díaz, Rafael Moreno, Francisco Muñoz Alba and Juan Manuel García Fernández
- Award: Second Prize, flamenco guitar, ninth Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Making Competition (2026)
A Flamenco Guitarist First
Emilio Díaz Valero was born in 1991 in Almazora, in the province of Castellón, a region still connected to the memory of the legendary guitarist Miguel Borrull. He grew up surrounded by music and wood. From an early age, the sound of a well-made guitar meant more to him than vibrating strings: it carried the heartbeat of tradition and centuries of craftsmanship. His path began as a player and working musician. From 2012 to 2018 he studied at the Ángel Barrios Professional Conservatory in Granada, focusing on flamenco guitar. He then continued his training at the prestigious Rafael Orozco Higher Conservatory in Córdoba until 2022.
Training with Francisco Manuel Díaz in Granada
In 2019, Emilio began working in the workshop of Francisco Manuel Díaz Sánchez, a member of Granada's renowned Díaz family of guitar makers, whose roots trace back to Casa Ferrer. For Emilio, learning from Francisco was a great privilege and a direct link to one of Granada's most deeply rooted craft traditions. For his first two years, he balanced the workshop with his conservatory studies. After that, working side by side with his teacher, he devoted himself fully to lutherie.
His Own Workshop
In April 2025, Emilio opened his own workshop, fulfilling a dream he had carried for years. Filled with the scent of cedar and cypress, it is where the knowledge he inherited from Francisco Manuel Díaz meets the personal vision he has developed along the way.
Granada Tradition, Modern Vision
Emilio openly acknowledges the influence of Antonio de Torres and of Granada's extraordinary line of makers, including Antonio Marín Montero, Francisco Manuel Díaz, Rafael Moreno, Francisco Muñoz Alba, and Juan Manuel García Fernández. He builds using the classic Granada en peones method, but he also pursues his own ideas about what a contemporary concert flamenco guitar can be – ideas shaped by his own experience on stage and by conversations with leading concert players, including Gerardo Núñez and Álvaro Martinete. And as a highly trained flamenco guitarist himself, he knows exactly how a guitar should feel under the hands.
Prize Winner in Granada
In 2026, Emilio won second prize for his flamenco guitar at the ninth Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition in Granada, Spain, a remarkable achievement so early in his career as an independent maker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Emilio Díaz Valero build his guitars? In his own workshop in Granada, Spain, which he opened in April 2025.
Who did Emilio Díaz Valero train with? Francisco Manuel Díaz Sánchez, a member of Granada's Díaz family of guitar makers, whose roots trace back to Casa Ferrer. Emilio worked in his workshop from 2019.
What awards has Emilio Díaz Valero won? Second prize for flamenco guitar at the 2026 Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition in Granada.
Is Emilio Díaz Valero also a guitarist? Yes. He studied flamenco guitar at the conservatories of Granada and Córdoba and worked as a musician before devoting himself fully to guitar making.
