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Berta Rojas

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Berta Rojas
Background information
Birth nameBerta Rojas
Born (1966-09-23) 23 September 1966 (age 58)
Asunción, Paraguay
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Musician, professor
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1992–present
LabelsOn Music Recordings
WebsiteBerta Rojas

Berta Rojas (born 23 September 1966[1]) is a Paraguayan classical guitarist. She was awarded a Latin Grammy for her album "Legado" (2022) in the category of "Best Classical Album". The same album received another statuette for "Best Contemporary Classical Contemporary Composition" for Anido's Portrait, written by Sergio Assad. She has been nominated to the Latin Grammy on three other occasions: In 2012 she was nominated for Best Instrumental Album in the Latin Grammys for her album "Día y Medio (A Day and a Half)" which she recorded with Paquito D'Rivera.[2] For her album "Salsa Roja", she was nominated at the 2014 Latin Grammy Awards in the category of Best Classical Album.[3] She got her third nomination in the 16th Annual Latin Grammy Awards for Best Tango Album for her album "History of Tango", which she recorded with the iconic Camerata Bariloche.[4]

Background and education

Berta Rojas was praised for having "introduced a new dimension in the emotional reaches of the instrument", according to El País newspaper in 1991.[5] Since then she has gone on to build an international career and was lauded by the Washington Post as a "guitarist extraordinaire"[6] and by Classical Guitar Magazine as "ambassador of the classical guitar".[7]

She had her first music lessons with guitarist Emiliano Aiub Riveros. She then studied guitar briefly with Carlos Vázquez, and began her formal education in classical guitar at age 10 under the instruction of Felipe Sosa and Violeta de Mestral. At the same time, she also studied piano with Rosa Mereles de López at the Jorge Báez Conservatory.[8]

Rojas moved to Uruguay in 1986 to continue her studies with Uruguayan professor Abel Carlevaro. There she enrolled in the Escuela Universitaria de Música (Universidad de la República), where she obtained a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar, studying under guitarist Eduardo Fernández and Mario Paysée.

In 1996, Rojas was named a Fellow of the Americas by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for her artistic excellence.[9] This recognition helped her acquire the means to continue her formal education in the United States. That same year, she began her graduate studies at the Peabody Institute. In 1997 she received a scholarship from the Organization of American States which financed her remaining studies. She received a Master of Music from Peabody Institute under the instruction of Manuel Barrueco[10] and Ray Chester.[11] In 2000, Rojas received her Graduate Performance Diploma at the same institution under Barrueco and Julian Gray.[12]

Musical career

Rojas has performed at various venues around the world, including at the National Concert Hall in Dublin as a soloist with the Irish Radio and Television Orchestra (RTO),[13] and on Belgian National Television with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra.[14] Since 2011, Rojas has toured through 20 countries in the Americas with Cuban saxophonist and 11-time Grammy award winner Paquito D'Rivera on the "In the Footsteps of Mangoré" tour.[15] Together, Rojas and D'Rivera recorded and released Día y Medio (A Day and a Half),[16] an album which earned a nomination for "Best Instrumental Album" in the 13th Latin Grammy's in 2012. She has also frequently toured with Brazilian guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima.[17]

Rojas' twelve regular studio recordings began with the 1998 album Intimate Barrios, that was included in Gramophone magazine's list of "the best recordings you can buy".[18] Her 2006 release Cielo Abierto was praised by Soundboard magazine as "impeccable in every aspect of professionalism—heart-touching musical artistry, interesting repertoire and excellent technical production".[19] 2009's Terruño has received excellent reviews by critics internationally. Steve Marsh of Classical Guitar Magazine commended Terruño for exhibiting a "poetic exquisiteness which many another player rarely attains".[20]

In May 2015, Berta Rojas received the distinction of "Maestros del Arte",[21] the "Embajadora Ilustre del Arte Musical" distinction by the Paraguayan Senate,[22] and the award of "La Ordena Nacional al Mérito Comuneros", by the Chamber of Deputies Paraguay.[23] On 18 May 2015 she released her album "History of Tango", along with the iconic Camerata Bariloche.[24]

In 2016 the Autonomous University of Encarnación[25] and the Universidad Americana of Asunción[26] bestowed upon her Honorary Doctorate Degrees. And for her outstanding work on behalf of culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs awarded her the National Order of Merit "Don José Falcón" in 2017.[27]

On 8 May 2017 she presented her album entitled "Felicidade", in homage to Brazilian music, with the collaboration of the outstanding artists Gilberto Gil, Toquinho and Iván Lins.[28]

On 4 July 2017, she received the Carlos Colombino award, granted by the National Secretariat of Culture of Paraguay in recognition of her contribution to Paraguayan culture.[29]

In August 2017 she became the first Latin American guitar teacher in the Guitar Department at the Berklee College of Music.[30]

In June 2018 she joined the renowned Australian guitarist John Williams in a tribute to Agustín Barrios Mangoré at the Sam Wanamaker theater of the Shakespeare's Globe cultural complex in London.[31]

In 2019, the National University of Asunción also granted her an honorary doctorate.

On May 24, 2022, she releases her most recent recording material, entitled "Legado" (Legacy), a tribute to the pioneering women of the classical guitar. The same year she received La Guitarra de Oro Award: A Life Dedicated to the Guitar, bestowed by the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan. More recently in 2023, she was awarded with the National Order of Merit in the Grade of "Grand Cross", the highest degree of recognition granted by Paraguay.

Promoting development and appreciation of musical arts

Year Activity
1994 Artistic director of the First Agustin Barrios International Guitar Competition and Festival, with the participation of John Williams, Graciela "Chelita" Pomponio, Richard Stover, Enrique Pinto, and Hopkinson Smith, among others (Paraguay)[32]
1999 Artistic director of the City of Asuncion's Music Competition (Paraguay)[33]
2002[34] and 2006[35] Artistic director of the Cardozo Ocampo Competition (Paraguay)
2007, 2008 and 2009 Artistic director of the Marlow Guitar International Youth Guitar Competition (formerly known as the John and Susie Beatty Music Scholarship Competition for Classical Guitar (Washington, DC, USA)[36]
2007, 2008,[37] 2009[38] and 2010[39] Artistic director of the Iberoamerican Guitar Festival (Washington, DC, USA)
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 Artistic director of the Latin American Harp Festival (Washington, DC, USA)[40]
2009[41] and 2011 Founder and director of the Barrios World Wide Web Competition[42]
2009,[43] 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Educational tour "Con Berta Rojas hoy toca Mangoré" Tour of Schools (Paraguay)[44]
2011,[45] 2012, 2013 and 2014 "In the Footsteps of Mangore" Tour (Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Panama, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras, Costa Rica, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, French Guiana, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Haiti, Martinique, Cuba and El Salvador)[46]
2016, 2017, 2018 Guitar Orchestra "Pu Rory" Ensemble
2020, 2021, 2022 Original idea and direction of the musical composition "Jeporeka" project.

Discography

  • Berta Rojas interprets Agustin Barrios – Clave Ediciones. Paraguay, 1992
  • Concierto Latinoamericano – Paraguay, 1995
  • Concierto Latinoamericano – Dorian Recordings, USA, 1997
  • Intimate Barrios – Dorian Recordings. USA, 1998
  • Guitarra Adentro – Paraguay, 2002
  • Cielo Abierto – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2006
  • Alma y Corazón – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2007
  • Flores de Asunción – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2008
  • Paraguay According to Agustin Barrios – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2008
  • Terruño – ON Music Recordings – USA, 2009
  • Día y Medio – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2012
  • Salsa Roja – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2013
  • Historia del Tango (History of Tango) – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2015
  • Felicidade (Happiness) – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2017
  • Legado – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2022

References

  1. ^ "La artista paraguaya, guitarrista por excelencia, Berta Rojas, cumple hoy 51 años". www.radio1000.com.py. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Berta Rojas, nominada al Grammy Latino". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 25 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  3. ^ "The Latin Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 2014..." The Hornet. 24 September 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Berta nuevamente nominada a un Grammy Latino". ultimahora.com. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  5. ^ "La Música en 1990: Grandes Recitales". El País. Montevideo, Uruguay. 12 January 1991.
  6. ^ "Berta Rojas. Guitarist Extraordinaire". The Washington Post. 27 May 1993.
  7. ^ Panting, Tim (May 2007). "Waltons Guitar Festival of Ireland". Classical Guitar Magazine: 38.
  8. ^ "Conservatorio "Jorge Báez Roa" inició sus actividades". Diario ABC Color. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Berta Rojas at The Kennedy Center". Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Institute". peabody.jhu.edu. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Ray Chester at the Peabody Institute". peabody.jhu.edu. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Julian Gray". peabody.jhu.edu. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  13. ^ "Berta con sinfónica de Irlanda". Diario ABC Color. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Berta Rojas cosecha éxitos durante concierto en Bélgica". La Nación (in Spanish). 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014.
  15. ^ "In the Footsteps of Mangoré". bertarojas.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Berta Rojas y Paquito D´Rivera lanzan disco con música paraguaya". Diario Última Hora (in Spanish). 12 May 2012.
  17. ^ "Concierto de Berta y Barbosa – Lima". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 10 October 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  18. ^ Rickards, Guy (February 2000). "Our monthly guide to the best recordings you can buy". Gramophone.
  19. ^ "Elogian el trabajo de Berta Rojas". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 27 December 2007. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  20. ^ Marsh, Steve. "Reviews – Terruño". Classical Guitar Magazine. No. 2009.
  21. ^ "Los "Maestros del Arte 2015" serán distinguidos hoy por el Congreso". La Nación.
  22. ^ "Senado condecora a Berta Rojas". ABC Color (in Spanish).
  23. ^ Lorena FLores (13 May 2015). "Berta Rojas recibió condecoración de parte de la Cámara de Diputados".
  24. ^ "Nuevo disco de Berta Rojas está dedicado a la historia del tango". ABC Color (in Spanish).
  25. ^ "Itapúa Noticias | UNAE Nombra a Berta Rojas 'Doctora Honoris Causa'". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Berta Rojas recibe el título de Doctor Honoris Causa". ultimahora.com. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  27. ^ "La guitarrista Berta Rojas recibe la máxima condecoración de la Cancillería paraguaya". www.efe.com. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  28. ^ "Berta Rojas celebra la vida con su nuevo disco "Felicidade"". La Nación. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  29. ^ "Premian a la guitarrista Berta Rojas en Asunción antes de su actuación en China". www.efe.com. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Multi–Latin Grammy Award Nominee Berta Rojas Joins Berklee's Guitar Faculty". Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  31. ^ "Berta Rojas y John Williams rinden homenaje a Mangoré en Londres". ultimahora.com. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  32. ^ "Lanzaron un concurso mundial de guitarra". Diario Última Hora. 26 April 1994.
  33. ^ "Concurso musical del CPJ ofrece un concierto en Washington". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 10 March 1999.
  34. ^ "Música erudita se renueva con los jóvenes". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 28 December 2002. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  35. ^ "Concurso Cardozo Ocampo de guitarra y requinto". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 5 May 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  36. ^ "The MGI Youth Guitar Competition". marlowguitar.org. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  37. ^ "Berta Rojas". Soundboard Magazine (XXXV): 80 to 83. 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  38. ^ "Festival Iberoamericano De Guitarra". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 12 June 2009. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  39. ^ "Berta Rojas dirige festival de guitarra en Washington". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 4 June 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  40. ^ "Berta Rojas – Cantantes – Músicos – Teatro de la Luna". teatrodelaluna.org. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  41. ^ "Innovadora competencia internacional de guitarra". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). 24 July 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  42. ^ Buffa, Jorge. "Barrios WWW Competition – 2011". Barrios WWW Competition. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  43. ^ "Berta Rojas inicia gira dirigida a los jóvenes". Diario ABC Color (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  44. ^ "Gira 'Con Berta Rojas hoy toca Mangoré'". bertarojas.com. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  45. ^ "Berta Rojas hará una gira por el camino de Mangoré". Diario ABC Color. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  46. ^ "In the Footsteps of Mangoré". Retrieved 26 September 2019.

Further reading

  • Bruzual, A. (2012). La Guitarra en Venezuela. Desde sus orígenes hasta nuestros días [Guitar in Venezuela. From its origin until our days]. Caracas: Central Bank of Venezuela
  • González Palacios, E., Podetti, M., Rovatti, D., & Muñoz, I. (1998). Lengua y Literatura 7 [Language and Literature 7]. Asunción: Santillana S.A.
  • Quevedo, O. (2005). Forgers of Paraguay. Asunción: Arami Grupo Empresarial
  • Starling, W. (2012). Strings Attached. The Life & Music of John Williams. London: The Robson Press
  • Stover, R. (2002). Six Silver Moonbeams. The Life and Times of Agustín Barrios Mangoré. El Salvador: Fundación María Escalon de Nuñez.
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