VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

The fifth VCU Flamenco Festival will bring a group of leading flamenco artists to the Richmond community, March 20-22. The series, presented by the Department of Music in the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, is known for its crowd-pleasing performances.

The festival will feature three concerts and a flamenco guitar workshop. Concerts will be held in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.

The schedule is as follows.

Guitarist Torcuato Zamora and dancers: Friday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.

General admission: $15, students: $10

At 79, Torcuato Zamora is one of the grand old men of flamenco guitar. Flamenco dancers from the Furia Flamenca Dance Co. will accompany his performance.

Flamenco Guitar Master Class: Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m., James W. Black Music Center Recital Hall

Guitarist Miguelito will give a master class on the art of flamenco guitar. Admission is free for this class.

Flamenco Fiesta with guitarist Miguelito, dancers, and singer: Saturday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.

General admission: $15, students: $10

After accepting a job accompanying flamenco classes at the George Washington University, Michael “Miguelito” Pérez eventually found himself playing for every flamenco dance company in and around Washington, D.C. He is considered one of the premier flamenco guitarists in the United States.

Flamenco Finale with guitarist Leah and guest artists: Sunday, March 22, 4 p.m.

General admission: $15, students: $10

Alumna and Richmond native Leah Kruszewski (Bachelor of Music, 2010) studied classical and flamenco guitar at VCU. She now lives in Sevilla, Spain, on a scholarship to study at the Cristina Heeren Flamenco School. Guest artists for this performance include VCU alumna Denver Walker on guitar and Flamenco del Sur, a Richmond-based flamenco ensemble led by VCU alumnus Clarke Hedgepath.

For more information, visit http://arts.vcu.edu/music/.