First Posted: 4/21/2014
Classical Guitarist Jay Steveskey will celebrate Spring on Sunday, May 4 at 3 p.m. at the Dietrich Theater by exploring the vibrant and colorful music of Cuba.
Afro-Cuban rhythms, smooth and modernly exotic harmonies will be translated through the classical guitar. Featured will be compositions by the preeminent Cuban guitarist/composer Leo Brouwer as well as his younger contemporaries Eduardo Martin, Aldo Rodriguez Delgado and more.
This free concert, Classical Guitar Music of Cuba, is sponsored by John P. Keker in memory of Jessie Reppy Keker, and Sarah Sidorek. Jessie was a great appreciator of Steveskey’s artistry and attended many of the concerts he has performed at the Dietrich Theater since 2008. A reception will be held at the theater after the concert.
Steveskey is an active soloist, chamber musician and teacher. He has been featured on WVIA-FM and Scranton Today TV, and runs the Fiddle Lake Guitar School in Susquehanna County. He has had extensive private studies with Argentine guitarist Pablo Cohen, Professor of Classical Guitar, Ithaca College and was selected to perform for a Master Class conducted by Sharon Isbin, Head of the Classical Guitar Department, Juilliard School.
One of the composers that will be featured is Brouwer, an Afro-Cuban virtuoso. Among his works are a large number of solo guitar pieces, several guitar concertos and more than 40 film scores. Brouwer has been heard as both composer and classical guitarist at virtually every major music event in the world. He is the composer of Cancion de gesta (Epic Poem), recorded and played by the most important orchestras in the world. He has made over one hundred recordings and his works have been recorded by personalities such as John Williams, Julian Bream, and others. He is the composer of the music for Alfonso Arau’s film Like Water for Chocolate.
Aldo Rodríguez was born in 1955 in Havana, Cuba and studied the guitar with Isaac Nicola and Martha Cuervo. He also attended master-classes with Alirio Díaz, María Luisa Anido and Frank Fernández. He has given master-classes in Poland, France, Colombia, Bulgaria and Chile, and teaches at the National School of Music in Havana. He has received various honours from the Cuban Government, including the Medalla por la Cultura Nacional, and the Medalla Alejo Carpentier, awarded by the government in 2003.
Born in Havana in 1956, Eduardo Martín began studying the guitar in 1971 with Vicente Martínez. In 1975, he entered the National School of Instructors of Art where he studied with Dagoberto Arguiz. Three years later, in 1978, he encountered Ángel Vázquez Millares, with whom he studied music history, as well as morphology and musical analysis during the rest of his academic studies. He notably studied guitar with Antonio Rodríguez, counterpoint with Armando Rodríguez and harmony with Enrique Belver.
He has composed for numerous films as well as concert music. In 1991 he became the first Latin American composer to be honored at the Concours International de Guitare de Radio-France in Paris. Today, his music is included in the official teaching programme in several countries: Cuba, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Turkey, Spain, France, Austria and the United States. It is also part of the compulsory programme in several international competitions.
For reservations for this free concert call 570-996-1500. Tickets will be available at the door.