The School of Music will bring famed Cuban composer/guitarist Leo Brouwer to Fredonia for a residency on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 13 and 14. A pre-eminent composer for the classical guitar with over 100 commercial recordings, Mr. Brouwer is known for many other compositions, including film scores for "Like Water for Chocolate" and "A Walk in the Clouds."
"Leo Brouwer is one of the most important composers for classical guitar in the history of the instrument,” said Rob Deemer, associate professor of Music Composition and Ethos New Music Society advisor. “We are all extremely excited and delighted that he will be visiting our campus and working with our students."
Brouwer rarely visits the United States and Fredonia is his first residency in a tour that includes Harvard University, New England Conservatory, Mannes School of Music and SUNY College at Buffalo. He has conducted orchestras around the world including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Scottish National Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Mexico National Symphony Orchestra.
He was selected, along with Isaac Stern and Alan Danielou, to be an honorable member of UNESCO in recognition for his music career.
A guitar master class with Fredonia students will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall.
A tribute concert to Brouwer, also in Rosch, will be held at 8 p.m. that evening. Admission to the concert is $6 for students and $12 for the general public and will feature Fredonia student guitarists Shane Bucci, Michael Bunny, Allison DiMauro, Emilio Garcia, Steve Grower, Ryan Keyes, Dan Nordquist, Addison Perkins, Penn Watson and Steven Wong, as well as the Fredonia Guitar Quartet, Fredonia faculty guitarist and SUNY Distinguished Professor James Piorkowski and the Alonso/Drummond Duo of Evan Drummond and Orlay Alonso.
A public lecture, “Leo Brouwer: A Musical Life in Cuba," will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at noon in the Reed Library Garden area. It will be followed by a lecture on his music in Mason Hall Room 3140 at 5 p.m.
Brouwer's visit is supported by Ethos New Music Society, the Fredonia Guitar Society, the School of Music, the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the President's Office.
