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Help us maintain the quality of our programs and raise much needed funds. Enjoy a stellar line-up, including Judy Handler & Mark Levesque, Eric Elias, Richard Provost, Val Ramos, Daniel Salazar and many more!
These internationally acclaimed performers are donating their performance to help raise much-needed funds for The Connecticut Guitar Society, a non-profit organization with a 24 year history. Like many arts organizations faced with a tenuous economic climate, the society is facing a difficult year ahead and asking for the public’s support in order to continue offering world-class programs. All proceeds from this special concert will go towards supporting the society’s programs.
The special Fundraiser Marathon Day will feature several outstanding virtuosos in solo and duet performances: Daniel Salazar, Jr. playing classical, Spanish and Latin American selections, Val Ramos performing Spanish Flamenco pieces, husband and wife duo Judy Handler and Mark Levesque blend Brazilian, Latin American, swing, gypsy, classical and folk music. They will also be joined by two exceptional musicians from Chile: Roberto Clavijo playing charango (Latin American string instrument) and zampoña (pan flute), and flutist Gonzalo Cortés. The program includes music from Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Spain as well as original selections by the artists.
Performer Information
Daniel Salazar, Jr. has been recognized internationally for his “warm, virtuostic playing” and “truly brilliant” performances. His tours have taken him to prestigious international venues in Rome, Prague, Malta, Vilnius, Warsaw, Spain and Mexico, among others. Daniel has toured Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union as United States Artistic Ambassador and his performances have been broadcast by television and radio stations in ten countries. His recordings sell as far away as Japan. In 2007 Daniel was chosen as one of “the Mayor’s Nine”, a group of Hartford residents recognized for their important contributions to the city. His portrait is on display at Mayor Mike’s Restaurant in Hartford.
Daniel’s debut Compact Disc, “Malagueña!” was released in 1996 and features the premiere recording of Lecuona’s universally famous music, especially arranged for guitar and orchestra. With his second release, titled “Daniel Salazar”, the guitarist introduced a new musical style that combines various musical elements that have influenced his playing. Daniel’s latest
recording “Mosaico”, features an ensemble of guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion playing a unique fusion of Spanish guitar with Latin and World rhythms. All of these CD’s will be
available at tonight’s concert. Daniel holds a Master's Degree from the Hartt School of Music and has also studied guitar in Spain. He is a founding member and current Artistic Director for the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society, the largest organization of its type in the country, and is on the faculty at the University of Connecticut and the Hartt School. Visit www.danielsalazr.com for more information.
Val Ramos is a native of New York City (of Puerto Rican parents) and is considered to be one of the best Nuevo Flamenco guitarists in the United States. Val has toured the United States and Spain with his ensemble which includes his brother Jose Ramon Ramos. At the early age of 14, he studied Flamenco guitar with Spanish (Malaga) Flamenco master Adonis Puerta in New York City. In 1981, he graduated from Ezra Stiles College at Yale University. He made his professional debut in the Disney Channel in 1985 and has since released three independent albums under the PIRAM Records label.
He has been featured in major international music festivals in the U.S. and Spain. He holds the distinction of being the first non-Spanish guitarist to perform at the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center in New York City. Flamenco Connection has described his ensemble (Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble) as "a hidden treasure of Flamenco in the Americas. Superb musicianship..." and Rootsworld.com has described his music as "the best of classical Flamenco brought to modern standards." His music is described as highly original and lyrical with a strong traditional Flamenco foundation. Some of his musical compositions are featured in the documentaries Puerto Rican Passages (1996 Connecticut Public Television) and Nuyoricans (2001 WNET Thirteen/PBS). He has ventured briefly into Latin and Puerto Rican music with a cameo performance (also featuring his ensemble) with the international Grammy winner and Queen of Salsa, the late- Celia Cruz in Hartford, Connecticut in 2000, and with an opening for three-time Puerto Rican Grammy nominee Danny Rivera at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City in June 2002. Over the past ten years he has performed and collaborated with many renowned international Flamenco artists. In the summer of 2005, he toured in Spain with his ensemble under the auspices of the United States Embassy in Spain.
Judy Handler, guitar - Judy has given concerts & workshops throughout the United States. Her solo playing spans diverse genres of music including classical, Latin American, Brazilian, and jazz arrangements. She has performed with many prominent guitarists including Charlie Byrd and Oscar Ghiglia. Judy has received numerous awards including an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Greater Hartford Arts Council.
Judy's studies began in her hometown, Chicago and she went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in guitar from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Music from the Hartt School of Music, and certificates from summer studies at schools in Aspen, Spain and Italy. She teaches guitar at the University of Connecticut and at a private studio in Vernon, Connecticut. Judy is co-founder of the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society, one of the largest organizations of its kind in the country.
Mark Levesque, guitar & mandolin - Mark started playing guitar at age 11 and soon began working with rock and blues bands. He also became interested in other styles of guitar music including jazz, classical and international. Mark has composed songs and instrumental music, worked with synthesizer orchestration, and learned the art of studio recording.
Mark plays an array of guitars including a classical, a jazz archtop, a 12 string, an electric and a gypsy guitar. He also has several mandolins, a Brazilian bandolim and a Puerto Rican cuatro. His versatility has given him the opportunity to play in groups ranging from duos to big bands. Mark's passion for guitar and mandolin music has led him to research music from throughout the world and his creative ideas have been the stimulus for most of the arrangements performed by the group.
Mark gives guitar and mandolin lessons in Vernon, Connecticut.
Eric Elias is one of America's outstanding young guitarists. Whether performing as a soloist or with small combos, Eric's music represents a blend of jazz, blues, and folk music. He has been described as having a folk and worldmusic sound with a "straight ahead" style.
Touring experience has taken Elias from London to Toronto and across the eastern and central United States, playing at clubs and festivals. He has opened for Maynard Ferguson, performed live with world-renowned guitarist Phil Keaggy and played at the Cornerstone Festival. Eric has also been featured on two CDs for the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society as well as recordings with guitarists Robert Messore and Luke Nelson. As a result of Eric's musical skills, his compositions have been used for two PBS television shows and have been recorded by other artists. Mr. Elias is also a columnist for Just Jazz Guitar magazine and has authored 11 instructional books in the area of jazz and bass guitar performance.
Currently, Eric has five CDs available as a leader and with Luke Nelson. Elias debut, "Canine Dreams", was released in the mid 1990's and received a substantial amount of radio air-play in New York, remaining on the top ten independent artist charts for months. Erics last two CDs ("Conversations with my Strings" and "Solos, Duos, Trios and Quartets") are instrumental offerings that feature Eric in a variety of jazz and acoustic guitar settings. "My Compliments" the jazz debut CD with guitarist Luke Nelson has received critical acclaim as well.
Richard Provost:
Founder and chairman of the guitar department at the Hartt School, University of Hartford, Mr. Provost made his solo debut at London’s Wigmore Hall in 1972 and has performed throughout the United States, Great Britain, and Germany. In 1988 he became a member of the Goldspiel/Provost Duo, where he performs and records with his partner Alan Goldspiel. In addition, he has conducted numerous master classes and workshops as well as authoring three books on guitar technique (Professional Guitar Publications) along with The Art and Technique of Practice and The Art and Technique of Performance, (GSP Publications)
His guitar studies were with Alexander Bellow of New York City and Oscar
Ghiglia. In addition, he was selected to perform in the last of Andres
Segovia’s six-week summer master classes in Santiago de Compostella, Spain. He has also performed in master classes given by Julian Bream and Rey de la Torre.
Mr. Provost is regarded as one of the Country’s leading guitar pedagogues. His students have won or been finalist in major guitar competitions including the GFA, MTNA, ASTA, and Alirio Diaz Competition.
Teaching positions currently held or held by Hartt School Guitar Graduates include: Louisiana Tech University, Assumption College, (Worchester) University of Tennessee, William and Mary College, Univ. of Idaho, (Moscow) Longy School of Music, Western Connecticut State University, Central Connecticut State University, University of Central Florida, Miss Porter’s School, Settlement Music School, (Philadelphia), Rowan University, and The Hartt School.
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