Latin jazz flute maestro, Nestor Torres took to The Lyric stage, Friday, March 31st, along with 20 student musicians to deliver a 3-hour knockout performance that brought the audience to its feet in thunderous applause. The concert event was the culmination of a intensive master class, presented by The Lyric Theatre and The Arts Council of Martin County, in which the Grammy-winner worked tirelessly with the instrumentalists over a period of 4 days. For nearly all of the musicians, this was their first exposure to Latin music, posing a myriad of challenges, most particularly in relation to rhythms. Mr. Torres presented the students with a daunting selection of music that they have never seen or heard before. Astoundingly, in less than a week's time, these students rose to the challenge and accompanied Mr. Torres for the duration of his show "Havana & Buenos Aires", with the help of only a handful of professional musicians.
The pupils were comprised of hand-picked symphonic players from Martin County, Jensen Beach & South Fork High Schools, as well as two local homeschool families on the strings. In addition to the students, Mr. Torres enlisted the help of Maestros Raul Noriega and Pablo Vazquez to work closely with the string section. Interestingly, the two maestros did not speak English, but the language barrier posed no problem as the language of music is universal and communication came easily. For the performance, the students played side by side with a world-class Latin rhythm section, setting the bar for dynamic stage performance. All of the professionals acted as mentors, working closely with their student counterparts to support and empower them, resulting in a impressive presentation.
Each season,
The Lyric Theatre Master Class Program continues to flourish and inspire, playing a vital role in the Lyric's Arts &
Education initiatives and nurturing a love of the arts. Renowned artists such as Nestor Torres, Terrance Simien, and Tony-Award-winning choreographer
Savion Glover have have shared their knowledge and generosity of spirit with thousands of Treasure Coast students. This unique experience allows dedicated artist mentors to kindle even the smallest spark of creativity in a child that might otherwise go unnoticed. Master class opportunities enhance The Lyric's mission to support emerging and established area artists. "Whether the student is just a spectator or performing participant, master classes also allows a master artist to share how they came to be where they are and glean a better understanding of what it takes to become an artist. It is our role to create experiences to provide a better understanding of the arts and the contributions the arts provide to us as individuals and to our community." says Kia Fontaine,
The Lyric Theatre Executive Director. "We are blessed to have gifted and passionate mentors willing to share their wealth of knowledge and experience with local students," Karin Leone, The Lyric's Director of Education.
For information about any of The Lyric's Arts &
Education Programs, please contact Karin Leone, Director of
Education at
772-220-1942, ext. 205 or Karin@LyricTheatre.com.
Go to LyricTheatre.com
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