The UTRGV Guitar Festival is set to begin at 7 tonight in the Performing Arts Complex on the Edinburg campus and will run until Monday.
Recognized performers from around the world, such as Rafael Elizondo (Mexico), Ramonet Rodriguez (Costa Rica), Judicaël Perroy (France) and Luis Quintero (Venezuela) are set to play throughout the musical weekend.
Kurt Martinez, director of the School of Music, said the event is significant for the guitar scene in the Rio Grande Valley.
“I think the mission for the festival, in general, is, basically, to emanate the beauty of the guitar to the whole Rio Grande Valley, to spread the knowledge of what the guitar is all about and what it’s capable of doing,” Martinez said.
He said the students help decide which guest players will be invited.
Alongside performances, the festival will consist of guitar workshops open to the public.
Lecturer Hector Rodriguez said the workshops will focus on genre and technique, and be presented by the performers.
“We have a variety of workshops,” Rodriguez said. “We have a flamenco workshop, classical guitar workshop, to improve the technique. We have a master class with guest artist Judicaël Perroy. Some of the students from UTRGV, from both campuses, will be participating and learning directly from him.”
Music education senior Pierre Sustaita prepared for the upcoming event by helping Rodriguez as much as possible with putting it together.
Asked what he is most looking forward to, Sustaita replied, “To learn new techniques, and to be open,” in reference to the offered workshops.
Graduate performance student Victor Longoria said he’s looking forward to the performers being here for students to watch.
“I think that being down here in the Valley, most people aren’t even aware of what classical guitar is, or how exciting it could be,” Longoria said. “And I think the festival brings everyone, who is aware at least, in the Valley together to see some of the best guitarists in the world, and biggest things in the world, perform here on our campus.”
The festival events are in the PAC as follows:
–7 p.m. Friday, Rafael Elizondo and Ramonet Rodriguez perform with melodies in classical and flamenco guitar;
–11 a.m. Saturday, “Día de Guitarra,” which will include guitar workshops and events delivered by the guest performers. They will teach tricks and how to develop a career in guitar and music;
–7 p.m. Saturday, Perroy will perform;
–and 7 p.m. Monday in the Student Union’s PlainsCapital Bank Theater on the Edinburg campus, Quintero is scheduled to perform Latin American guitar repertoire.
All concerts and workshops are free to the public. So grab your guitar and get ready for a musically filled weekend.
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