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Christopher Garcia
(EAST LOS Angeles, CA, USA) percussion of indigenous Mexico including: atecocolli, ayacaxtli, ayotapalkatl, baa wehai, chililitli, huilacapiztli, tawitol, teponaztli, tehuehuetl, tlapan huehuetl percussion of India: tabla, kanjira, ghatam percussion of the Americas y Europa berimbau y marimba miscellaneous percussion PAISTE metals Christopher Garcia is a critically acclaimed musician/composer/educator who specializes in drumset, hand and stick percussion of India hand and stick percussion of indigenous Mexico, and marimba. A native of(East) Los Angeles, Christopher attended California Institute of the ARTS on a full scholarship where he studied percussion with John Bergamo, and tabla with Pandit Taranath Rao, Leonice Shinemann, and Swapan Chaudhuri. Since then he has performed on 5 continents in 29 countries. His drumming and compositions are unusual in that they incorporates various vernaculars, rhythms and their permutations, along with a fluency with odd time signatures and sonic textures, which he seamlessly incorporates into his performances. His fascination with rhythm and the color of sound allows him to be a group member and frequent collaborator/composer with various critically acclaimed classical, jazz, rock, and world music ensembles with whom he continues to concertize with performances in: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Macedonia, Mexico, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the United States and Wales. PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES http://christophergarciamusic.weebly.com/previous-performances.html As a composer he has received commissions for indigenous instruments and classical guitar piano string quartet western harp CHAMBER/SYMPHONIC MUSIC COLLABORATIONS http://christophergarciamusic.weebly.com/indigena-projects.html As an educator he has given interactive lecture demonstrations from the middle school level to universities across the world on improvisation and its different vernaculars instruments of indigenous Mexico - Aztec/Mexica/Mayan/Raramuri instruments of North and South India rhythm and percussion instruments of the world and more EDUCATIONAL LINKS http://christophergarciamusic.weebly.com/master-classes.html His website on indigenous instruments of Mexico and various YOUTUBES demonstrating the instruments in solo and ensemble settings continues to be acknowledged as an excellent educational overview to these instruments, their histories and performance practices. His lectures have been described as “educational, elevating, enriching and life changing.” by various audiences. INDIGENOUS INSTRUMENTS OF MEXICO http://christophergarciamusic.weebly.com/indigenous-instruments-images.html |
TASHA SMITH GODINEZ
(SAN DIEGO, CA USA) Western Harp, magnetic tape, percussives, ayoyotes With over 20 years experience in both the harp and the violin, Tasha Smith Godínez is an accomplished musician and educator. Ms. Smith Godínez debuted as a soloist at age 16 and has since graced stages worldwide. Ms. Smith Godínez began her musical studies at age 4 on the violin and age 8 on the harp. With the harp, Tasha has studied with Isabelle Perrin, Elena Mashkovtseva, and Susan Allen. She graduated with honors from San Diego State University where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in harp performance (2005). Upon graduation from SDSU she moved to Paris, France to study with the world renowned harpist Isabelle Perrin at L'Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. In Paris, she also finished with honors when she obtained the only unanimous vote from the jury. Ms. Smith Godínez received a Diplôme de L'Execution de la Harpe (French equivalent of a master's degree in harp performance) from L'Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris (2006). Tasha has also received a master’s degree in harp performance from San Diego State University (2010). Ms. Smith Godínez frequently performs with the Orquesta de Baja Californian located in Tijuana, Mexico and the Grossmont Symphony of San Diego, California. In addition to her orchestral performing she is an avid soloist and chamber musician. Ms. Smith Godínez specializes in the performance of new music for the harp. Recent accomplishments include a recording of Elliott Carter's Luimen, premiere performances as soloist and chamber musician and an invitation as soloist in the Mexico International Harp Festival (2012). Ms. Smith Godínez performs extensively throughout southern California and Mexico and has performed throughout Europe including concerts in: France, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, and Slovakia. Some of her notable performance venues include: Copley Symphony Hall (San Diego), San Diego Organ Pavilion (Balboa Park, San Diego), Escondido Center of Performing Arts (Escondido, CA), Dvorak Concert Hall (Prague, Czech Republic), L’Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris (Paris, France), and the Centro Cultural de Tijuana (Mexico). Ms. Smith Godínez' most recent projects include organizing the commission of a suite for solo harp, by Argentine composer Andrés Martin (premiered May 2013) and the recording of Andrés Martin's Concerto for Bass and Orchestra. Tasha is the recipient of a grant from the American Harp Society in order to commission a piece for solo harp by American composer Michael Byron. Aside from performing, Ms. Smith Godínez is president of the American Harp Society, San Diego Chapter and harp teacher for the San Diego Harp Academy. "During her stay in Paris, I would like to say how much I enjoyed working with her. Tasha has a very warm personality and is a very talented performer. Her playing is very musical and strong all together and so makes it really interesting to listen to. I wish her the best success in life with her harp, making all the people listening to her most happy" Isabelle Perrin, Professor of Harp Ecole Normale de Paris Paris, France "What a surprise to listen to such beautiful playing when you just attend a private friendly meeting. Tasha Smith caught my attention with her musicality and her technique. She became the most important event of the afternoon. Young, beautiful and elegant, I am sure she will soon be requested by symphonic orchestras, also for solo performances. She deserves to be helped in the beginning of her career." Edoardo Muller, Conductor "I had the pleasure of hearing Tasha Smith play one afternoon while walking through the lobby of the Westgate Hotel. I had to stop and hear this beautiful lady perform. Her tone and style was so crafted and technically smooth. Not since Alice Chalifoux have I heard the harp played with such flash and musical understanding. She is terrific. Her range of playing covers all from "pop" to classical works. Give yourself a treat and do hear this fine musician play." Don Pippin, Tony and Grammy Award New York Musical Director |
