The University of Texas at San Antonio guitar program is featuring several student guitarists in recitals starting Monday.
Matthew Dunne says the kind of music featured in the UTSA guitar program is classical and flamenco.
“We've got a great program; we've got about 20 students most years. Last year we took a quartet to Cuba, which I think listeners to Texas Public Radio might remember the stories that came out of that," he said.
IF YOU GO WHAT: Guitar Recitals WHERE: UTSA’s Recital Hall, 1604 campus WHEN: 5 p.m. Monday, and 7:30 p.m. Friday COST: free
Some of those students are now playing recitals as one of the metrics of their progress. Carlos Guevara from El Salvador and San Antonio’s Caleb Bailey perform at 5 p.m. Monday. At 7:30 p.m., Ashley Lucero will play her master’s recital.
"I'm really excited about my program,” Lucero said. “It's a nice mix from all eras. Baroque, classical, romantic, modern, and even some compositions of my own. So I'll be playing Bach, Takamitsu, Dyens, and a couple of Beatles tunes thrown in there, arranged for the classical guitar. But most exciting is my original composition that I wrote specifically for this recital."
Then, Friday at 7:30 p.m., UTSA senior Dan Schumacher performs in a recital that, Dunne said, will carry a special meaning.
"Ashley and Dan are playing their final recitals here," he said. "It's been a long journey here for these kids and they have really, really turned into fine, emerging professional musicians."
The Arts building’s UTSA Recital Hall is at the 1604 campus, and the recitals are free and open to the public.
Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org
