Alma Y Corazon

Carlos Barbosa-Lima As a twelve-year-old boy, Carlos Barbosa-Lima performed public concerts in his native San Paulo, Brazil. He developed his musical talents with the help of an exceptional teacher, Isaías Savio. Then in 1967, at the age of 22, Barbosa-Lima entered the international concert circuit with a brilliant U.S. debut. Since then, he has enjoyed a remarkable career as a guitarist and arranger. He credits his success to the wisdom of his teacher, Savio, and further guidance from the legendary Andrés Segovia. In his music, Barbosa-Lima mixes old world classical roots with the new world’s vital rhythms. He interprets an exceptional range of repertoire, encompassing Scarlatti, Debussy, Gershwin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brubeck and many others. His fanciful arrangements, which integrate different styles, bring him devoted fans and critical accolades. In fact, several noted modern composers have dedicated pieces to Barbosa-Lima, among them Alberto Ginastera, who wrote the Sonata Opus 47, a seminal work of guitar literature. Carlos Barbosa-Lima has matured into an exceptional concert and recording artist. Today, he plays with some of the world’s best orchestras and players, both renowned classical and jazz musicians. He records and tours with new generation of artists, such as Berta Rojas, and he remains a genial central figure at annual music festivals. In this way, he carries on in the lineage his teachers, sharing important musical insights with the next generation, Berta Rojas Berta Rojas is a musician who easily moves from classical to other musical genres. Whether working in collaboration, as with the legendary Carlos Barbosa-Lima, or as a soloist, Rojas has captivated music-lovers in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Most notably, she’s appeared at both the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and the Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. Her performances at Washington D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center and the South Bank Centre in London sold out in advance. In 2004, she opened the International First Ladies Summit in Paraguay with special guest Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Praised by the Washington Post as a "guitarist extraordinaire," her musicianship and cordiality made her a favorite at the renowned John Marlow Guitar Series in Washington DC. The Kennedy Center has recognized Rojas’ artistic excellence and selected her as a Fellow of the Americas for the Performing Arts. This award, as well as a grant by the Organization of American States, allowed her to earn a Masters Degree in Music from Baltimore’s prestigious Peabody Conservatory. While there, she was awarded the Zaidee Thomas Award and a Harold Randolph Prize. Beyond her musical talents, Rojas is committed to supporting South American artists. She has produced a series of concerts in the U.S. that feature folk music played by Latin artists. In addition, she serves as Artistic Director to several South American competitions including the "Agustin Barrios International Festival," the "City of Asuncion Music Competition" and the "Cardozo Ocampo Competition. In October 2004, Paraguay’s Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Evanhy de Gallegos, named Rojas Paraguay’s Ambassador of Tourism.