VIVIANA
GUZMAN flutes, dance
Described by the New York Times as “an imaginative
artist,” Chilean-born flutist, Viviana Guzmán
(www.viviana.org)
performs over 80 concerts a year throughout the world.
She has been featured on programs for NBC, PBS, NPR and
CNN and has played in 56 countries featuring flutes from
her collection of over 100 gathered from concert tours.
Her music video was aired on UNIVISION in 30 countries
and she has recorded with Polygram, Sugo, and National
Geographic record labels. She has performed as soloist
with orchestras in Russia, Chile, Vermont, New York, Wisconsin,
California, Texas, and Montana, in such halls as in Carnegie
Hall, and other prominent stages with such artists as
Mikhail Baryshnikov, Placido Domingo, and Glenn Close.
Ms. Guzmán studied with Jean-Pierre Rampal, James
Galway, and Albert Tipton and graduated from the Juilliard
School. Viviana has fans worldwide, one of whom, Isabel
Allende wrote, “Your music is celestial!”
RADIM ZENKL mandolins, ethnic flutes, digeridoo
Radim Zenkl was born in Opava, Czech Republic. While
studying classical music, Radim discovered bluegrass by
listening to records that were smuggled in to his communist
country. The sound of a bluegrass mandolin initiated the
spark that subsequently led Zenkl beyond bluegrass to
an eclectic array of styles. Zenkl escaped from Czechoslovakia
in 1989 for political freedom and to be closer to his
musical influences. Two years later, he was invited to
perform for the newly elected president of Czech Republic,
Vaclav Havel. In America, Zenkl has made a name for himself
becoming the U.S. National Mandolin Champion (1992) and
one of the world's premier mandolin virtuosos. Zenkl's
performance features his own innovative playing technique,
the "duo-style", which sounds remarkably like
two instruments simultaneously. Zenkl has recorded five
CDs, the latest one is called Restless Joy. His home page
is at www.zenkl.com.
GUILERMO RIOS flamenco guitar
The brilliant, flamenco virtuoso, Guillermo Rios has
returned to the United States after seventeen years of
performing and touring throughout the world with Spain's
leading flamenco artists. His highly acclaimed instructional
video has been released world-wide by Mel Bay Publications.
Mr. Rios was the first flamenco artist ever to be awarded
the Ford Foundation Composition Grant. Now based in Los
Angeles, Mr. Rios has appeared as soloist with orchestras,
as a recitalist in prestigious halls, including New York's
Carnegie Recital Hall, and on radio and television stations
throughout the United States. His recording, "Soul
of Spain", epitomizes the new style of flamenco composition
which Rios has developed on his own and as a student of
the renowned flamenco master, Sabicas.
RICHARD PATTERSON guitar
Richard Patterson enjoys an active international career
performing with his groups and as a featured soloist in
North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. After
attending conservatory in Spain, Mr. Patterson returned
to the United States where he was signed by the world's
largest classical music management, Columbia Artists,
for six seasons of critically acclaimed national tours.
Richard Patterson is also an award-winning recording artist
and has been a featured performer on over twenty recordings.
His compositions and arrangements are heard in feature
films and on television and radio worldwide. Mr. Patterson
is founder of the San Francisco International Guitar Competition,
Director of the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts
concert series in San Francisco and head of the Guitar
Department at Notre Dame de Namur University. He formed
the virtuoso quartet, Festival of Four in 1992.