| Alfredo
Muro returns for two concerts
On September 30 and October 1, the public will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive performances by world-class guitarist Alfredo Muro. Last fall this renowned musician delighted audiences with a sold-out performance in the chapel of the Monastery of St. Gertrude as a fund-raiser for The Historical Museum at St. Gertrude. The public’s response to that cultural event was so gratifying that Muro has agreed to return for an encore performance in the chapel, as well as a limited-seating dinner concert. 
“The chapel has some of the finest acoustics that I have performed in during my entire musical career,” says Muro. “I was very pleased.” The dinner concert is scheduled for the evening of Friday, September 30, in the monastery’s new retreat center next to the museum. Seating for this exclusive event is limited to 72 and will include a gourmet dinner, a debut CD of last year’s performance, and a concert by the artist. Reservations are required. Tickets are $50 per person. Music lovers can enjoy Muro’s chapel performance on Saturday evening, October 1. Seating is limited with tickets priced at $15 and $25 per person. A native of Lima, Peru, Muro began teaching himself to play the guitar at the age of 10. His self-study progressed quickly, and he was soon granted scholarships to study with some of the finest guitarists in South America. As an adult, he juggled two careers; law and music. He built a successful law practice in Peru, but when his study of the guitar demanded more time, Alfredo gave up his legal career and moved to the United States to broaden his skills. He lives in Portland, Oregon. While on tour in Europe, he played for Pope John Paul II at a Vatican “Special Audience.” He has been selected for Master Classes with the world’s top guitarists, such as Manuel Lopez Ramos and Carlos Barbossa-Lima. He has also appeared on numerous recordings, stage, radio and television programs. Accomplished in classical, Spanish, Latin jazz, and South American guitar, he has a CD endorsed by six-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist Jose Feliciano. That CD is available for sale in the museum store. This year he will make two new recordings, Guitarra Peruana and Anthology of Brazilian Guitar Music. For more information or reservations please call the museum at (208)962-7123. Biotzetik Basque Choir will perform at St. Gertrude’s Monastery The public is invited to enjoy a concert of traditional Basque music, dances and historical narrative, performed by Boise’s Biotzetik (“Bee-Oht-Say-Teek”) Basque Choir. The event will be held at St. Gertrude’s Monastery on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids ages 6 to 12, and free for children under 6, and are available at the door the day of the performance. Biotzetik, which in Basque means “from the heart,” was founded in 1986 as the only Basque choir in the U.S. The choir is comprised of approximately 50 members, both Basque and non-Basque, who sing in the native Basque language as well as English and Spanish. The goal of Biotzetik is to promote awareness and understanding of the richness of the Basque culture through music and dance. Since it was formed, Biotzetik has performed in a variety of venues in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington State, and Vancouver, British Columbia. The trip to McCall is one of the choir’s first performances in the central and northern areas of Idaho. In 2001, the choir traveled to the Basque Country where it performed in various venues, receiving standing ovations from the Basque audiences. The group plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2006 by returning to the Basque Country to participate in workshops, to learn old traditional folksongs, and perform in concert. The McCall event is a fundraiser toward that effort. For more information call Al Erquiaga, (208) 852-0678. |
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