International Harp Competition and Festival, Mexico

MÉXICO

USA

PERCUSSIONIST-PERCUSIONISTA

Christopher is a  a "native"  of  (East) Los Angeles.  His background includes performances in a wide variety 
of musical settings including; Jazz, Rock, World Music, avant garde, symphonic music, chamber music, 
indigenous and traditional music of Mexico, ZAPPA music, percussion ensemble, soundtracks, and cartoon music.He continues to learn and hone his craft utilizing, drumset, marimba, percussion instruments of North and South India including: tabla, kanjira, and ghatam,
along with indigenous percussion instruments of various regions Mexico including: Huehuetl, teponaztli, and baa wehai,
employing extended techniques using fingers, hands and stickings in a variety of jazz, rock and world music settings.

USA

Meko is an international award-winning harpist, recording artist and composer based in Orlando, Florida. His journey started as a toddler at the family piano and continued when, at 11 years of age, he began his study of the harp with Artiss de Volt, who instructed him in technique and repertoire. 

Although he loved classical music, he intuitively knew that the classical concert stage was not where his destiny lay. He began writing his first original songs, formed a band, dabbled in vocals, and started performing on the electric harp.

He is two-time prize winner of the International Jazz-Harp Competition, his song Aria has been chosen to appear in an upcoming Hollywood movie and he has ranked in the top 20 on the New Age Charts.

Meko is also founder and director of the International Harp Museum and seeks to promote the harp worldwide. 

MÉXICO

Celso Duarte / harp

Rodrigo Duarte / violoncello

Juan Duarte / flute

HUNGARY

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Dr. Erzsébet Gaál Rinne is a Hungarian-American harpist, a Kodály pedagogue, and a researcher in physical wellness for musicians. She has given concerts all across Europe and America.  Her most recent telematic performances appeared in Asia.  She is a recipient of the Pro Artibus Award that she has received from the Artisjus Foundation for promoting Hungarian contemporary music abroad.  
Her professional work can be heard on her solo harp CD recordings Harpa Hungarica and Harpchipelago, and seen on her DVD program Harp Playing for Life.  Her articles, appearing in different journals, are available on her web site www.harpahungarica.com.  In her teaching career, there have been a number of former students who have achieved successes and recognitions in the professional world of music.  
Dr. Erzsébet Gaál Rinne is an honor graduate of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest, Hungary, holding a Doctor of Music degree from the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.  She is a member of the faculty at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, at University of Evansville, Evansville, IN, and Meridian Music School, Indianapolis, IN.  As part of her Private Studio and Tune Up! Music School program, she offers online instructions.  

 

TAIWAN-USA

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Described by critics as "captivating optimism and charm" and "virtuoso harp playing", Dr. Heaven Fan was invited internationally as a featured soloist in recitals, orchestral concerts, and music festivals. As a harp scholar, she is the first person to publish an in-depth analysis on the New Method for the Harp by the early nineteenth century English harp virtuoso Elias Parish Alvars, which was published in the 2011 Winter issue of the American Harp Journal. Dr. Fan has been elected as a member to Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society, and classified by the US Government as an Alien of Extraordinary Abilities in the Arts. She has served on the judging panels for the 2007 National Harp Competition in Taiwan, the 2008 and 2012 Young Artist's Harp Competition in Rabun Gap, Georgia, the Individual Artist Program of the Indiana Arts Commission for FY2012, and the 2013 Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Collegiate Scholarship Competition. Dr. Fan has received her Bachelor's degree with highest distinction in both harp and piano from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University) in Australia, and her Master's degree, Artist Diploma, and Doctor of Music from Indiana University. Dr. Fan is the founder and director of the Anderson University Harp Department and its summer Harp Camp, and serves as harp faculty at the acclaimed MasterWorks Festival. Her students have won first prizes in national and international competitions and have held principal orchestra positions. Her upcoming activities include performing and serving on the judging panel for the Fourth International Harp Competition and Festival in Mexico 2016.

MEXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

MEXICO

ARPA VERACRUZANA

MEXICO

FLUTE PLAYER-FLAUTISTA

He studied transverse flute with Ruben Islas and Hector Jaramillo at the National School of Music, UNAM (now School of Music), and Chamber Music with Luisa Durón. He has participated in several independent projects throughout his career, the most recent one has been with the group of traditional Japanese music Kasou Kai led by Yoshiko Nushimura, with whom he has collaborated for six years. Daniel and Mabel Rodriguez have found and played for several years a flute and harp duet "Argus Lyra". Today he is dedicated to teach music education projects for young people at the Institute of School Education of the Federal District.

MÉXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Cesar was born in Torreon, México. At the late age of 19, he meets the wonderful harp world and decides to turn his life around. Is at this point that he entered the Musical Faculty at the State University of Nuevo Leon (Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, UANL) in Monterrey, Mexico. He studied under the teachings of  Jose Enrique Guzman Marín and got his bachelor degree in Harp 5 years later. He is the first student to graduate from UANL with a Harp Major.  

After finishing his studies at the UANL, he was accepted at the Superior Conservatory of Aragon in Spain (CSMA), where he specialized his jazz harp technic with Enrique Lleida Lanau and thanks to his talent he was chosen as one of the soloist of the Conservatory. As a soloist he played several concerts, including the premiere of the Concert for symphonic band and Harp from Serge Lance at the Zaragoza’s Auditorium. In 2015 he finished his studies at the CSMA with Gloria Maria Martinez.

He has played in important halls around the world, in countries like Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, Wales and Spain. He has won international Harp competitions in Mexico, France, Wales and Germany.

Cesar’s passion for jazz and for folks and popular music has made him write different arrangements and compositions using techniques from different instruments. Recognized harpists in several countries such as Italy, England, Australia, Singapore and China have played these arrangements. Furthermore, he has created a new technique where he combines the virtuosity of the Latin-American harp with the refined European technique.

Nowadays he is developing a methodology to facilitate jazz playing in a pedal harp. He has been teaching with this methodology for three years at the international Harp Festival in Castejon de Sos, Spain, where he is the improvisation teacher. 

MEXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Mabel Rodríguez is a graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Música, UNAM . She studied under the direction of teacher Lidia Tamayo and later Rimsky Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia Tower and teachers Tatiana Nadieshda Nikitischna . He participated for several years in various symphony orchestras in our country. Mabel studied Master of Music - Music Education at the Faculty of Music of the UNAM under the guidance of Dr. Graciela Guadalupe Martinez Salgado ( + ) and received the title in 2010 with honors. Today is dedicated to teaching, she is in charge of the chair of harp at the School of Music at the National Arts Centre . Also part of the Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Cuauhtemoc .

MEXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

MEXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

PUERTO RICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Torres has continued to maintain an active performance schedule in chamber music recitals. She has also performed as a soloist with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra playing Claude Debussy’s Danses: Sacred and Profane, W. A. Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto and Ginastera's Harp Concerto. In the last few years, she has been invited to serve as member of the jury for International Harp Competitions in Italy and Mexico City, where she has also presented recitals.

Torres completed a project sponsored by the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music to publish harp arrangements with a didactic approach. The first stages of the collection, "Mi Pequeña Arpa" and “Mi Arpa Navideña”, include children's songs of the Latin American repertoire, and are already available in book and CD formats.In addition to her work as an interpreter and arranger, Torres also acts as Professor of Harp in the Bachelor's Program of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music.

MEXICO

 HARPIST-ARPISTA

Duarte is a virtuoso on the Paraguayan harp and Mexican jarocho harp. In 1998, he met Lila Downs while playing a festival in Oaxaca, Mexico, and since then has gained critical acclaim playing harp and violin in her band, La Misteriosa. Duarte made some of the arrangements and co-wrote the title track for Lila's 2005 Grammy-Award winning album "Una Sangre (One Blood)." He has also accompanied other artists, including Susana Baca, Plácido Domingo, Mariza, Ramón Vargas, Julieta Venegas, Olivia Molina, and Wynton Marsalis. In addition to recording with Lila Downs, he has also performed on albums with Celso Piña, Joe Vasconcelos, Charanga Cakewalk, Sofía Koutsovitis, and with The Chieftains and Ry Cooder on "San Patricio." He also collaborated with Julieta Venegas on the soundtrack to the Academy Award-nominated film "Maria Full of Grace."

In his solo career, Duarte has showcased traditional Paraguayan folk and son jarocho (a musical style from Veracruz, Mexico that draws from indigenous Huastecan, Spanish Baroque, and African influences). In addition, Duarte creates a new style of music by incorporating elements of jazz and world rhythms, including Brazilian and Afro-Peruvian styles. In 2006, Duarte released his first solo album, "De Sur a Sur (From South to South)", featuring his arrangements of son jarocho and Paraguayan folk songs. The United States release of "De Sur a Sur" was held at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. While touring in support of the album, Duarte noted, "We're going to present the son jarocho in our own way, with rhythms from [Peruvian] festejo, Brazilian samba, and also a few harp solos from Paraguay, classics like 'Pájaro Campana' and others." A second solo album is to be released in April 2011.

Duarte has toured with his band, known variously as the Celso Duarte Quartet, the Celso Duarte Sextet, and the Celso Duarte Ensemble, at leading venues in the United States, including 2007 performances at Joe's Pub in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Getty Center in Los Angeles, and 2010 performances at Carnegie Hall in New York,  and the historic Capitol Theater in Olympia, Washington.

In addition to performing and recording, Duarte also spends time researching folkloric genres that are in danger of being lost. Asked about his harp playing, Duarte said, "My harp is for me a magic instrument. You can feel the resonance in your chest, in your arms, in your body.

FRANCE

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Chantal Mathieu has pursued an international career as a soloist as well as with famous orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra notably), alongside well-known conductors and famous partners. She likes to interpret all classical music styles, from Baroque to contemporary and including romantic music. Furthermore, she contributes to the creation of future music by commissioning new pieces from her numerous composers and friends, whilst transcribing and arranging the pieces that she enjoys for the harp. Her numerous records or CD's. reflect the richness of her repertory (among others: Virtuose Harfe, Bach on the harp, Marcel Tournier Works for harp).

Chantal Mathieu worked in Germany for a while (Symphonic Orchestra of the Norddeutscher Rundfunk and Musikhochshule of Hamburg), before settling in Geneva to start a family. It is with great generosity that she transmits her knowledge to her students at the Lausanne Music High School (Switzerland). Most of them now hold important positions within the musical world. In the same spirit of sharing, she invests herself a lot in the associative life. Importantly, she chaired and organized the 8th World Harp Congress in 2002, which brought together more than 1000 harpists in Geneva. Today, she initiates and develops many projects in which music production and research hold a crucial place.

MÉXICO

ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR-DIRECTOR DE ORQUESTA

Eduardo García Barrios, one of Mexico´s most admired and respected directors, is a musician of enormous range and technical command. Founder of the Baja California Orchestra in 1990, he returned as appointed Chief Conductor and Musical Director for Baja California Orchestra in 2010.

Born and raised in Mexico City, García Barrios learned piano from his father and continued his formal music education in the former Soviet Union, motivated by one of his most inspiring teachers Gela Dugrova, violist. Once in the Soviet Union he was deeply influenced by such artists as piano teacher Mikhail Voskresensky and Dimitri Kitayenko, Moscow Philharmonic Chief Conductor. This musical tradition during his formal education helped shape him as an artist and thinker. He graduated with honors from Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow in 1990 as Symphonic and Opera Conductor.

That same year he returned to Mexico and among a group of Russian musicians founded the Baja California Orchestra, acting as Chief Conductor and Musical Director until 1998. During this stage he was deeply interested in interdisciplinary projects and he produced several productions with artists from different backgrounds.

From 1998 to 2002 he acted as Chief Conductor for the Lima University Philharmonic in Peru and conducted several orchestras in United States, South America and Russia, acting as associate conductor for the San AntonioTexas Symphonic Orchestra until 1999.

In Mexico he has been Guest Conductor for almost every orchestra in the country including National Symphonic Orchestra, Mexico City Philharmonic, OFUNAM and Bellas Artes Symphonic Orchestra. Some of his recorded works include Música de Salón featuring compositions of Maestro Silvestre Revueltas, El Danzón según Márquez and a series of recordings featuring Meyer Kupfermann compositions.

Aside his impressive trajectory as a conductor, part of his work has been oriented to the popular genre producing cabaret, danzon, bolero and traditional folk songs with symphonic orchestras. García Barrios has also worked closely with artists such as percussionist Tito Puente and many Mexican singers.

In recent years he acted as Musical Director for the Carlos Chávez Youth Orchestra, and at the same time he was Artistic and Musical Director for the Musical Investigations Laboratory in Mexico City.

During a visit to Venezuela, García Barrios made contact with José  Antonio Abreu,  founder  of  “El  Sistema”, a program aimed  at systematizing music education and promoting the collective  practice  of  music  through  symphonies  and chorus  as a means of social organization and communitarian development. García Barrios then participated in the academic council that brought the same program to Mexico.

His interest in “El Sistema” resulted in the foundation of the Center of Musical Arts (CAM) in Tijuana, reaching out to young talents in poor communities.

He acts now as Executive Musical Director for the Musical Arts Center and Chief Conductor for the Baja California Orchestra, celebrating 20 years of its foundation.

MEXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

In one of the world’s finest examples of classical harp, Mexican Angel Padilla Crespo, on a rare tour of Ireland and the UK, will give a recital of enchanting Spanish and Mexican music dating from the 16th to the 20th Century with pieces by Lucas Ruíz de Ribayaz, Antonio de Cabezón, Mateo Albéniz, Donostia, Isaac Albéniz, Granados, Chavarri, Ponce, Márquez, Guridi and Halffter.  

Born in México City, Angel Padilla Crespo attended the Royal College of Music in London and worked with Marisa Robles. He continued on to study under the instruction of Nicanor Zabaleta and in 1999 obtained a Performer’s Diploma from Indiana University. He has been presented with awards such as the Malcolm Sargent, Jack Morrison, and Ian Fleming in England, the Andrés Segovia and José Miguel Ruíz Morales in Spain, and the Barbera Foundation and Eleanor Fell awards in the USA.

MEXICO

Moisés Adrián Gallegos Rea - arpa grande

Carlo Constantino Prieto Méndez - violín

Bernardo González Venegas - jarana

Josué Maceda Vite - tamboreador

Alejandra Cecilia Prado Godínez-bailarina

Cintia Carina Reyes Sánchez-bailarina

María Fernanda Sánchez Valdéz-bailarina

Pajarito, ya no vuelvas
Tu hogar ya no está, se fue
Los humanos lo han quemado
Para una casa tener
Y tú y tus antepasados
No importaron a este ser
Los árboles con sus años
Se secaron, ya lo ves
Tus hermanos los cazaron
Libres, como alguna vez.
Ya no, pues los enjaularon.

Y la tierra, generosa
que alguna vez dio lugar
a la vida tan preciosa
tan perfecta, tan capaz
también murió, ya no hermosa,
está estéril, ya no hay más.

Jaguar Ocelotl Tecuani

MEXICO

HARPIST AND COMPOSER

ARPISTA Y COMPOSITOR

Nació en Torreón, Coahuila en 1967.  Realizó sus estudios musicales en el Conservatorio Nacional de Música de la Ciudad de México. Estudió el Arpa bajo la dirección de las Maestras Judith Flores Alatorre y Mercedes Gómez. Al mismo tiempo realizó estudios de teoría y composición en el ¨Instituto de Liturgia, Mùsica y Arte Sacro Cardenal Miranda¨ y en el mismo Conservatorio.

En 1993, recibe el primer lugar en composicion por su obra ¨Cántico espiritual¨para arpa y recitante, dentro del ¨Primer Festival Latinoamericano de Arpa¨. En 2012 escribió “Las estaciones”, ciclo de canciones para soprano y piano, por encargo de la soprano Rocío Domínguez Elizarrarás, quien las estrenó en la sala Manuel M. Ponce del Palacio de Bellas Artes en noviembre del mismo año, acompañada al piano por el Mtro. Carlos Islas Arias. La obra “Danzas de alebrijes” (2013) fue escrita originalmente para arpa sola. Su versión para dos arpas fue estrenada por el dúo Sondos en la Sala Carlos Chávez del Centro Cultural Universitario de la UNAM, en el 2015. La versión para arpa y violín se estrenó el mismo año también en la sala Carlos Chávez de la UNAM con el compositor al arpa y el Dr. Samuel Máynez al violín. La versión para arpa sola fue revisada, estrenada y grabada en el CD “Cielo Rojo” por el arpista Emmanuel Padiila Holguín.

Por encargo del Mtro. Baltazar Juárez (Director artístico del Concurso Nacional e Internacional de Arpa) escribió “Ameyalli (El manantial)” obra para arpa sola, para ser incluida como pieza obligatoria en el repertorio de la categoría Intermedia II del “Concurso Nacional e Internacional de Arpa, México 2016”.

De 1996 al 2007 fue arpista principal de la Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. Actualmente se desempeña como  arpista principal de la Orquesta de Cámara y Catedrático en la Facultad de Música de la misma Universidad. Ofrece regularmente recitales de arpa sola y con diferentes ensambles de música de cámara y promueve y difunde la creación de obras nuevas escritas para arpa, sobre todo en el estado de Nuevo León.

HONG KONG-USA

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Lillian Lau is in demand as an orchestral musician, educator, solo harpist and chamber music recitalist in Chicago and the Midwest. Her extensive orchestral engagements include performing as guest principal harpist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and MusicNOW, Chicago Opera Theater, Grant Park Music Festival, Ravinia Festival, National Repertory Orchestra (Colorado), in major concert halls throughout Europe, and as a soloist at the World Harp Congress in Switzerland. Lillian Lau is currently the Principal Harpist of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and Elgin Symphony Orchestra.  She has participated in critically acclaimed performances with James Conlon, Placido Domingo, Samuel Ramey, John Williams, and popular touring artists in major venues.
 
Lillian Lau maintains a large teaching studio in the Chicago area and the University of Chicago. She is the assistant editor of the best-selling orchestral excerpt guide “Principal Harp Book 2” by Sarah Bullen of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Lau is actively involved in the harp community, having served as a Vice President of the American Harp Society, and President of the Greater Chicago Chapter. Ms Lau holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, as well as the Performer's Certificate from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and a Professional Diploma in orchestral studies from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.  Her principal teachers are Sarah Bullen and Distinguished Professor Susann McDonald.

MEXICO

MUSICIAN AND RADIO PRODUCER

MÚSICO Y PRODUCTOR DE RADIO

Músico y productor radiofónico. Estudió violonchelo en la Escuela Superior de Música, INBA; 1978, Ana Isabel Berlín (ESM, INBA; 1980-1989) y Rebekah Stark (Universidad del Sur de Mississippi, 1991); composición con Humberto Hernández Medrano (Taller de Estudios Polifónicos, 1986) y producción radiofónica con Martha Romo (Radio Educación, 1993), Guadalupe Cortés (RE, 1993) e Iris Diesse (Deutsche Welle, 1997).
Actualmente colabora con Marco Antonio Estrada abordo del “ARGOS Consort” Desde 1987, Javier Platas ha realizado programas para Radio UNAM y Opus 94; también ha sido invitado a colaborar en Radio México Internacional, Radio Educación, Deutsche Welle, Radio Red y en la Unidad de Televisión Educativa de la SEP como productor, locutor o musicalizador y ha sido conferenciante y profesor en la UNAM, el INBA, el CENIDIM, el CENART, la Universidad del Claustro de sor Juana y el CONAFE.

En septiembre de 2003 obtuvo el primer lugar en el Primer Concurso Nacional de Radio y Televisión convocado por la Red Nacional de Radiodifusoras Educativas y Culturales con el programa radiofónico “¿Dónde estamos?”, texto de John Berger producido para Radio UNAM.

Desde agosto de 2004 hasta septiembre 2005 fue gerente de Opus 94, estación de música clásica del Instituto Mexicano de la Radio. A partir de 2006 es profesor de Historia de la Música en la Escuela “Vida y Movimiento” del Conjunto Cultural “Ollín Yoliztli” dependiente de la Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México.

MEXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

In the U.S. he study at Indiana University School of Music with Distinguish Professor Susann McDonald, while at the same time studying with Dr.Erzsebet Gaal, Hungarian pedagogue & harpist. Obtained for four consecutive years the award of Special Student, while persuing his Diplome de Harpist.

Santiago Di Morales got the position at the prestigious Chicago Temple. He represented Mexico at the World Harp Congress in the U.S. and abroad. Has given concerts in major cities of the U.S. Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Italy, France, Monaco, Spain, and as far as China.

Santiago Di Morales obtained second prix a le Concour de la UNESCO in 2005. Premier Prix a le Conservatoire de Cannes, where he studied with Mme Dabos. Santiago Di  Morales came expressively to France to study “Le cour de

Perfectionament” with Prof. Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche in Nice, France.

His CD  Orpheé L´Eternal Reveur , is listen in the FM radio Guadalajara, 105.1FM. as well in the Internet. It contains music from Handel, Bach, Dussek, Zabel, Godefroid, Reníe, Debussy, Albeniz  Tournier. Since 2010 Santiago Di Morales hold the Harp Class, for the first time in the History of the State of Jalisco and the Occident of México at the Institute Cultural Cabañas, as well in the Studio Suzuki Guadalajara, this is described as Innovator by the Association Suzuki of the Americas.

Baltazar Juarez Artistic Director of the International Harp Festival & Competition of México,

Requested that Santiago Di Morales become the Ejecutive Secretary for the Music Harp Festival of Mexico City which will take place from January 18th  to 24th  2016.

USA

FLUTE PLAYER-FLAUTISTA

Ellen Huntington enjoys a career as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and orchestral musician. A Miyazawa Artist, she is second flutist with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. She has been a featured artist at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Cultural Center, Augustana College, and the University of Chicago and has performed at several National Flute Association Conventions. Dr. Huntington is on the faculty of Loyola University Chicago and North Park University.
As the recipient of a Fulbright grant, Ellen Huntington studied with Jean-Claude Gerard at the Hochschule fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart, Germany. Dr. Huntington received her Doctor of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees from Northwestern University where she studied with Walfrid Kujala and Richard Graef. She was awarded a University Fellowship to pursue her Master of Music degree with Katherine Borst Jones at The Ohio State University. Her dissertation is titled "The Flute and Harp Duo in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries." Dr. Huntington is a winner of the Northwestern University Concerto Competition and the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation Award. She has served at the Secretary of the National Flute Association, Treasurer of the Chicago Flute Club, and on the editorial board of The Flutist Quarterly.

CROATIA

Tajana Vukelić Peić - harp

Born in Zagreb, Tajana Vukelić Peić studied at the Academy of Music in Zagreb. Afterwards she specialized in the harp in Conservatorio J. Tomadini in Udine, Italy with professor Patrizia Tassini.

She also took masterclasses with Marie Graf, Ivan Ion Roncea and Ernestine Stoop.

She is professor of harp at Pavao Markovac School in Zagreb.

As a solo harpist and chamber musician she has performed all over Croatia and Europe.

She collaborates with the main orchestras in Croatia (Orchestra of Croatian National Opera and Ballet, Croatian Chamber Orchestra, Cantus Ensemble, The Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra)

She has also preformed in Macedonia (2009.2012), on Rio Harp Festival-Brazil (2010, 2012, 2014), Les Journées Internationales de la Harpe (2011). - Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyana,  Boston, USA ( 2011),  in Rome (2012) -Italy,  Vatican (2012),  at the World Harp Congress -Sydney (2014), Tel Aviv ( 2015)

She has recorded for the Croatian Radio and Television.
She is an artistic director and organizer of Zagreb harp festival, international annual harp festival in Croatia (since 2013).

Srdjan Peić - horn

Born in Bjelovar 1971. Srdjan Peić studied music at the Academy of  Music in Zagreb, Croatia. He won a number of awards in horn and chamber music competitions of young musicians in former Yugoslavia. He has been a member of  the Orchestra of Croatian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Zagreb since 1993. He also teaches at a School of Music in Bjelovar. He established a chamber music ensamble „Ad Gloriam Brass“ in Croatia in 1994 and has been a member since then.

This unique horn and harp duo has performed in Croatia, Macedonia, Brasil, Australia, France…

MÉXICO

FLAUTIST-FLAUTISTA

Flutist Alheli Pimienta Barajas has been an orchestral and solo performer since the age of eleven. An alumnae from the prestigious Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza Clásica de Monterrey in Mexico, Alheli continued her training in the US, obtaining both her Bachelor and Masters Degree from the University of Idaho. Since moving to Canada in 2009 she has been studying with Susan Hoeppner, initially at the Glenn Gould School and presently at the University of Toronto in the Doctor of Musical Arts program. Though away from Mexico for a decade, Alheli, maintains close ties with her home country. She won first prize in Mexico’s 2014 National Flute Competition and has just been invited back to fill a temporary position as Associate Professor of Flute at her alma mater. Alheli’s musical career has benefited from numerous scholarships and awards, most recently the Access and Career Development Grant from the Ontario Arts Council.

Alheli is a versatile flutist in every sense of the word. In addition to having mastered all the instruments in the flute family from the piccolo to the bass flute, she also plays a variety of folk flutes. Her vast musical experience spans from classical to Brazilian Choro, Latin American music and jazz. She collaborates regularly with vocalists and instrumentalists in Canada, Mexico and Brazil and is a member of Flautas del Fuego, Trio Sol, Tio Chorinho and Brasileirinho.

SOUTH AFRICA

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Kobie has performed with most of the major symphony orchestras of South Africa, as well as making solo and duo recordings for the SABC, included on her previous CD (En Bateau – music for flute and harp, with flautist Corvin Matei). She also has extensive experience as a soloist and in chamber groups in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Catalonia, Spain.

Some of Kobie’s fondest harp memories include performing the Mozart Flute and Harp  Concerto as well as the Debussy Danses with various orchestras in South Africa. She played in the orchestras that accompanied Luciano Pavarotti (Stellenbosch, SA) and José Carreras (Segovia, Spain), and performed with Dutch harpist Edward Witsenburg, in Barcelona.

She loves performing concerts on three of her harps, the Celtic, Austrian Folk, and Concert harp to demonstrate the variety of sound effects and possibilities on the different instruments, as well as in duo with flute, cello, oboe and voice accompaniment.

BRAZIL

HARPIST AND OBOIST

The DUO CAPRA is formed by Talita Capra (oboe) and Marcelo Penido da Silva (harp). Among its main goals are to explore new repertoire for oboe and harp, to encourage the creation of new Brazilian compositions for this kind of group and to perform educational concerts that demonstrate the expressive capabilities of these instruments.

Its members have extensive orchestral experience, and both have worked with some of the most important orchestras in Brazil. The group has played at the III Concurso y Festival Internacional de Arpa in Mexico, the VIII Rio Harp Festival in Brazil, the I Concurso Iberoamericano de Arpa in Argentina, the Arpissima Festival 2014 in Italy, the XII World Harp Congress in Australia, and the III Oboefest in Argentina.

Among many distinctions, the Duo Capra has received the FUNARTE Prize for two consecutive years, for its didactic recitals played at schools in shanty towns and other poor areas of its hometown. It has also received the CENAMUSICA first prize and awarded with grants from the Brazilian Ministry of Culture and the Municipal Foundation of Culture.

USA

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Ian McVoy began his study of the harp at the age of 10 in his home town of Richmond, U.S.A.   where he studied with Aponi Brunson, Maggie Hill, and Rikki Denton.  He is an alumnus of the American Youth Harp Ensemble and the Richmond Academy of music.  He continued his education in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with acclaimed teacher Jacquelyn Bartlett.

McVoy has performed around the world at such notable venues as the White House, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the National Palace of Mexico, and the Portuguese Royal Reading Room in Rio de Janeiro.  He has given acclaimed performances in the United States, Canade, Mexico, Brazil, Austria, and France, and has made appearences with the Winston-Salem Symphony (Winston-Salem, NC), Richmond Symphony (Richmond, VA), and the San Fernando Valley Orchestra (Los Angeles, CA.)

He recently won first prize in the International Harp Competition of Mexico City, and has also garnered awards in the American Harp Society National Conests and in the Lyon and Healy Awards. 

McVoy resides in Paris, and is currently in the harp class of Isabelle Perrin at the École Normale Superieur de Musique Alfred Cortot.

USA

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Ms. Smith Godinez has been a musician for the majority of her life; having started violin lessons at the age of 3 and harp lessons at 8.  Her academic accomplishments include a Bachelors of Music and Masters of Music Performance from San Diego State University and a Diplome Superior of Harp Performance from the Ecole Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot in Paris France.  As a professional musician Tasha has performed internationally both as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral performer.  Her most notable performances as a chamber musician have been with the Orquesta de Baja California throughout Mexico and with various chamber ensembles in the United States including: Red Fish Blue Fish, San Diego New Music Ensemble, Pacifica Duo and the Talea Ensemble.  Ms. Smith Godinez has collaborated on numerous commissions of new music and premiered various works.  She is a recording artist for Cold Blue Records.  Her solo recordings include her self-produced solo CD Postcards from the Soul and her recording of Michael Byron’s solo harp work In the Village of Hope on Cold Blue Records.  Tasha has a studio of harp students both local in San Diego, CA and throughout the country.  Aside from her life as a musician, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. 

MÉXICO

HARPIST-ARPISTA

She also learned the mexican traditional harp "arpa jarocha¨. In 2007 she obtained her diploma in classic harp at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague with Ernestine Stoop, and then in 2008, she gets the diploma in baroque harp with Christina Pluhar at the same school. Since 2003 is founding member of Modelo62, ensemble that focuses their repertoire on new music of young composers from Latin America, east and western Europe. They were participating in Darmstadt contemporary Music Festival in 2010. Since the year 2005, she is member of the ensemble Música Temprana. This group focuses on Spanish and Latin American repertoire. With a very special continuo section by plucked string instruments, Música Temprana, researches both on historic documentation and in oral traditions. They have recorded the CD, “Avecillas Sonoras”, a selection of 18th century vocal works from the archives of the Latin-American cathedrals (2008), and ¨Iyai Jesucristo¨ a CD with music from the Jesuit missions in 18th century in Bolivia (2009). In 2011 Bárbara became member of the Ensamble Lucidarium, playing renaissance and medieval music. In April 2011 they recorded Hombres de Maíz, a CD with Mexican and Italian dances. She has been working under the leading of Gabriel Garrido in different projects like Paraguay Barroco and Capilla de las Américas.

USA

Patrice Fisher / harpist and composer/vocal

Alexis Guevara / guitarist-vocal

Carlos Valladares / cajón-vocal

Latin jazz harpist, PATRICE FISHER favors the music of Brazil and Cuba, saying that, not only is the harp ‘comfortable’ harmonically with the music, but that she herself  is drawn to the rhythmic complexities and syncopations: “that’s what makes you want to  dance.” Patrice is a graduate of Tulane University and​  ​ University of New Orleans​ . She  lives in New Orleans, where she has been composing and performing since the 1980’s.  She has also appeared at many international jazz festivals with her group, “Arpa,” in  locations such as Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Guatemala, Canada and many  more. Patrice has 15 CDs of original music, the latest being ​ "Resilience."   She has performed for more than 30 years at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage  Festival. Patrice also performs Celtic music and is director of the New Orleans Celtic  Harp Ensemble. Patrice regularly performs throughout the world as a guest artist with  international jazz musicians.     “An unexpected delight!” raves David Fricke of Rolling Stone Magazine. Gene  Scaramuzzo of Gambit newspaper says "There are many sides to this local  composer/harpist. It's not unusual to see her play a classical gig in the morning and a  music club at night. Strong rhythms form the undercurrent of her instrumental music  with Arpa."  Patrice is a harp teacher and a strong believer in using her talent to educate  young and older people about the harp and its potential. She is the founder of “Harps in  Harmony” project in Guatemala, where, for more that 10 years, she has taught and  been able to get more than 50 harps built locally, at a lower price. She has developed a  great system of teaching improvisation, on the harp, as well. (​ CV​
 

USA

GUITARIST-GUITARRISTA

ALEXIS “PAPO” GUEVARA is a Latin American guitarist and singer. He was born in Havana, Cuba, but is currently living in New Orleans, LA. He studied music in Cuba and immigrated to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 2000, before coming to the United States.  He is a classically trained, Cuban-born musician. He has jazz, Latin and popular influences in his musical style. ​ Alexis has toured the world, performing in France, Mexico, Guatemala and the US. 

Alexis is a composer and also a master of traditional Cuban  music.

He is been part of Patrice Fisher and Arpa for the last 2 years and brings a strong sense of rhythm, with  his guitar, to Patrice Fisher’s compositions. As well as his ability to sing.
Nowadays, he plays as a solo artist or in combination of a trio at different restaurants and events  throughout New Orleans and Louisiana.

CROATIA

HARPIST-ARPISTA

Biserka Krčelić began to learn harp with Dunja Havala at the Music School 'Josip Hatze' in Split, and finished her high school education in the class of Branka Janjanin–Magdalenić at the Music School 'Vatroslav Lisinski' in Zagreb. As a student of Ruda Ravnik–Kosi and Marija Mlinar, she graduated at the Music Academy in Zagreb and later obtained her Master of Arts degree at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz in the class of Arcola E. Clark.
Biserka Krčelić attended master-courses with Sarah Bullen, Ion Ivan-Roncea, David Watkins, Charlote Seal, Gabriella Dall'Olio, Thelma Owen, Imogen Barford and Hugh Webb. She performs as a soloist and in various chamber orchestras in Croatia and abroad.