FESTIVAL of FOUR
THE ARTISTS
Guillermo Rios
Flamenco Guitar
“Guillermo Rios is an unusually passionate flamenco guitarist; He plays with an exhibitionist’s flair and an underlying sense of drama.” –New York Times
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.
Viviana Guzman
Flutes
“Viviana Guzman displayed an extraordinary technique and great musicality.” –El Mercurio, Santiago, Chile
“Guzman’s performance was a virtuoso tour de force, executed with the most extraordinary ease.” –Monterey Herald
“Engaging command of any flutelike instrument.” –Ft. Worth Star Telegram
Described by the New York Times as “an imaginative artist,” Chilean-born flutist, Viviana Guzmán (www.viviana.org) performs over 50 concerts a year throughout the world. Her most recent recording “Traveling Sonata” received a GRAMMY Nomination and she gave a very successful TEDxBerkeley Talk, presenting just before Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple, Inc. She has been featured on programs for PBS, NBC, and NPR, seen on the cover of Latina Style Magazine, and in COSMOPOLITAN en Español and has performed in 125 countries, and in all 7 continents including South Africa, Ireland, Spain, Brazil, Bali, India, Peru, Japan, China, Argentina, Greece, Antarctica often featuring flutes from her collection of over 100 gathered from concert tours. Her music video was aired on UNIVISION in 30 countries. She has performed as soloist with 165 ensembles including orchestras in Russia, Chile, Brazil, Vermont, New York, Wisconsin, California, Texas, Montana, Philippines, in such halls as in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, and other prominent stages with such artists as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Placido Domingo, and Glenn Close.
Viviana began her musical training at the age of 5 and won her first competition at 7. By the age of 15, she played as a soloist with orchestra, studied with Jean-Pierre Rampal, and was featured on a John Denver nationally televised NBC special “Music in the Mountains”. Ms. Guzmán studied with Albert Tipton and in Masterclasses with James Galway, and graduated from the Juilliard School where she was a student of Julius Baker. A former member of the Houston Grand Opera and the New World Symphony, Viviana has released eight CD’s entitled, “Telemann Flute Fantasies” (classical), “Planet Flute” (world), and “Danza de Amor” (latin), “Mostly Tango” (tango) and “Serenity” (National Geographic) “Meditations” (new age), “Argentine Music” (world) and “Traveling Sonata” (classical). Last season included appearances in New Orleans, Honolulu, American Samoa, Mexico, Thailand, Panama, Peru, Chile, and as a soloist with the Philippines Symphony Orchestra in Manila and this season includes performances in Argentina, Philippines, Taiwan, Tahiti, Easter Island, California, and as a soloist with the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, La Paz (Bolivia) Symphony Orchestra, Hanoi (Vietnam) Symphony Orchestra. Viviana Guzman is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Flute Society & Festival, Flutes by the Sea Masterclasses, Co-Founder of The Flute View Magazine, and is an Altus Flutes Artist.
Stevan Pasero
Guitar
“Some of the greatest guitar music of all time” –KKHI, San Francisco
Virtuoso guitarist Stevan Pasero’s 35 recordings have sold over 10 million copies in 150 countries around the world. Mr. Pasero is recognized worldwide as a prolific contributor to the guitar repertoire over the past three decades. He has transcribed numerous symphonic works and composed, arranged and produced over 1000 pieces for solo, duo and various ensembles. All Music Guide states, “With classical guitar, the standard is generally Segovia and perhaps John Williams, but Pasero can keep up with the greats!”
Mr. Pasero attended San Francisco State University where he studied musical analysis, harmony, and composition, which led to postgraduate work in music transcription. Fans and critics say that Stevan Pasero is one of the music world’s best kept secrets, even though his music has been compiled on over 1000 CDs internationally. Esteemed music critic Richard Pontzious (San Francisco Chronicle) asserts, “Tastefully done, stylishly played; there are so many complimentary things to say!”
Mr. Pasero is noted for his creative arranging and orchestration style as well as in-depth transcription and improvisatory skills. He is one of a few guitarists to record in several music idioms successfully, bridging both classical, jazz and world markets. And even Oprah Winfrey is a fan as she affirms: “Close your eyes, lean back, and enjoy”!
Richard Patterson
Guitar
“One of the best such recitals I’ve heard, with Richard Patterson demonstrating absolute security, strong tone intelligently varied and solid rhythm.” –Guitar International
“Richard Patterson projects a deep understanding of and admiration for the music he performs. His attention to color and dynamics is remarkable and he displays a prodigious technique. Patterson plays with style, taste and elegance.” –The Times , San Mateo, CA
Richard Patterson enjoys an active musical career as a collaborative artist and has performed with his groups in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. As a student, Mr. Patterson lived in Spain, studying the guitar with maestro Jose Tomas. Returning to the United States, he was signed by the world’s largest classical music management, Columbia Artists, for six seasons of national tours as a member of the Ware-Patterson Duo. Under the auspices of David Lieberman Artists he toured internationally with the Russian virtuoso Emmanuel Sheynkman.
He is a founding member of the Festival of Four. He is also an active recording artist and has been a featured performer on more than thirty recordings. Mr. Patterson studied composition with Pulitzer Prize winners John Adams and Wayne Peterson and currently is Professor of Guitar at Notre Dame de Namur University.
He directed the Guitar Foundation of America Conference in 2008 and is the founding director of the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts in San Francisco. In 2012 Richard appeared in the feature film “Five Year Engagement” starring Emily Blunt and Jason Segel.
He was appointed to the faculty of the New York Guitar Seminar in Manhattan for the summer of 2013. In January, 2014 Mr. Patterson was one of five industry leaders appointed to the President’s Advisory Council of the St Louis Classical Guitar Society, chaired by Christopher Parkening. He represented the D’Addario String Company at the 2014 and 2015 Cordoba Guitar Festivals in Cordoba, Spain.