The Romeros, the World's Most Distinguished Classical Guitar Quartet, Will Transform Poway OnStage into a European Concert Hall

Almost 60 years after walking onto the world stage as the first classical guitar quartet, The Romeros continue their reign as a treasured institution in the world of classical Spanish music. From the Vatican, to the White House, to Carnegie Hall and other great concert halls, their devoted audiences span all ages, titles, and cultures.

Founded by the legendary Celedonio Romero with his sons Celin, Pepe and Angel in 1958, the Romeros have toured the world to broad acclaim. While the line-up has changed (and now includes second and third generation Romeros Celin, Pepe, Lito and Celino), the virtuosity has never wavered.

Composer, guitarist and poet Celedonio immigrated from Malaga, Spain, to Southern California in the late 1950's. Within two years the father and his young sons began performing as a guitar quartet around the Santa Barbara area. This was a new tradition; in 1958 there was no such thing as a guitar quartet in a concert hall. At that time, four or more guitarists playing together was common only in Spain's Flamenco tradition.

The Romeros quickly found a following. They toured the United States, played Carnegie Hall, performed on the Ed Sullivan Show, and landed a recording contract. The New York Times wrote, "Collectively, they are the only classical guitar quartet of real stature in the world today; in fact, they virtually invented the format."

The many guitar quartets of today owe a debt to "Los Romeros." Celedonio perhaps unwittingly devised a new art form of that time. He also generated much of the repertoire for his new invention. At first, he arranged and wrote music for his quartet to play. Eventually, as The Romeros' reputation grew, composers such as the revered Joaquín Rodrigo and Federico Moreno Torroba wrote pieces especially for the group.
Over the years, several of the Romero sons launched successful solo careers. And, as the family grew, so did the number of Romero guitarists. Celín's son Celino began playing with the group in 1990. When papa Celedonio died in 1996, Ángel's son Lito, the youngest of the Romeros, joined the group.

To this day, The Romeros endure as the most famous guitar ensemble in the world. With dozens of recordings and thousands of concerts, their repertory spans the entire literature for the guitar. In the words of famed Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo, "They are, without a doubt, the grand masters of the guitar."

At $35-$65, tickets for The Romeros are on sale now at www.powayonstage.org and the box office at 858-748-0505. The 800-seat Poway Center for the Performing Arts is located at 15498 Espola Rd. at the corner of Titan Way in Poway. The box office is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and two hours before curtain. Due to its generous sponsorship, GEICO Youth Tickets (for age 12 and under) are half off regular pricing. Discounts are available for seniors (65+), active duty military, and students (12-22). Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling the Box Office at 858-748-0505.

Poway OnStage, (a dba of The Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation), is a 28-year-old non-profit organization that offers professional performing arts events, including concerts, dance performances, theater productions, and a children's theatre series. The Foundation operates through a special partnership with the City of Poway and the Poway Unified School District.

Visit our website at www.powayonstage.org.

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