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Lorena Garay is a classical, Spanish
and Latin guitarist from Puerto Rico. She is an award-winning guitarist who performs
as
a soloist, a bandleader, a collaborative multi-instrumentalist, and
a studio musician. Lorena’s guitar arrangements and passionate playing style
beautifully blend the classical influence with her Latin sound. This
is a unique feature of her style.
Lorena is widely regarded
for her professional versatility and diverse talents. She is a full-time
performer, composer, arranger, audio engineer and music producer. She has composed,
recorded and produced two 15-track instrumental albums commissioned by the
international TV Sports Network ESPN. Additionally, she has
self-produced two albums: “La Guitarra de Puerto Rico”, a featured album
of the Greater Hartford Arts Council's 2004 United Arts Gift Giving
Campaign; and “Surcari”, which won third place in the category of “South and
Central American Album” at the 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards - the world’s
largest independent music awards.
Other awards received by Lorena
include the Latino de Oro Music Award, The Hartt School
Guitar Department Award, and the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico String
Department Gold Medal Award, among others.
Education
Lorena earned her Master
of Music degree Summa Cum Laude from the Hartt School of the University of
Hartford, where she received the Guitar Department Award. She holds a
Bachelor of Music degree Summa Cum Laude from the Conservatory of Music of
Puerto Rico, from which she received the String Department Gold Medal Award.
Lorena holds a music diploma from "La Escuela De Las Artes" in
Carolina, Puerto Rico, where she graduated with high honors.
ADDITIONAL Studies
Lorena studied classical
guitar with Richard Provost, Leonardo Egúrbida, Héctor Hance and Rafael París;
flamenco guitar with José R. Ramos and Carlos Revollar; jazz guitar with Rich
Goldstein; Cuban tres with Nelson González; and Andean & South American instruments
with Eugenio Huanca.
Performance Experience
Lorena has performed
extensively throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, both as a soloist and
with various Latin bands, including her own band Surcari, Jose Gonzalez's
Criollo Clasico, The Daniel Salazar Ensemble, Latin Spirits, Viva Quetzal, and
Sol Sin Fronteras. Lorena has also performed with a variety of artists, such as
folk singer Roy Brown, Puerto Rican rock figure Tito Auger, concert guitarist
Federico Cordero, and flamenco guitarist Val Ramos. At the Whitaker Center for
Science and the Arts in Pennsylvania, Lorena was the opening act of
renowned guitar duo Strunz and Farah.
Performance Appearances
Lorena has appeared in
performance at many major venues, such as: Western Carolina University-Recital
Hall, Cullowhee, North Carolina; Colgate
University, Hamilton, New York; The
Bushnell, Hartford, Connecticut;
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts;
Schoodic Arts for All, Winter Harbor, Maine;
Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire;
Nauticus National Maritime Center, Norfolk, Virginia;
Park Performing Arts Center, Union City, New
Jersey; University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island; Middle Earth Music Hall,
Bradford, Vermont; WV Cultural Center
Theater at State Capitol Complex, Charleston, West
Virginia; Feria del Barrio Festival, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; Festival Artscape, Baltimore, Maryland;
Stetson University, DeLand, Florida, Instituto
de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Massachusetts; Hartwick College, Oneonta,
New York; Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island; St. Bonaventure
University, St. Bonaventure, New York; Philadelphia Museum of Art,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Calvin Theater, Northampton, Massachusetts; Casa
Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Isothermal Community College, Spindale, North
Carolina; Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut;
University of Connecticut, West Hartford, Connecticut; Gateway Community
College, New Haven, Connecticut; Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, Vermont;
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Princeton
University, Princeton, New Jersey; Bronx Community College, Bronx, New York; Wadsworth
Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut; Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, San
Juan, Puerto Rico; Hillstead Museum, Farmington, Connecticut; University of
Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts; Harrisburg Area Community College,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport,
Connecticut; Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, Massachusetts; Trinity
College, Hartford, Connecticut; University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto
Rico; and St. Joseph College, Hartford, Connecticut; among others.
ComposiNG EXPERIENCE
Lorena Garay has composed, recorded
and produced two 15-track instrumental albums commissioned by the international
TV Sports Network ESPN: “Latin Ska Sounds” in 2009 and “Latin Big Beat Sounds”
in 2011. In 2007, Lorena composed and performed the music
for "The Pueblo", a play about the Américas, written by HartBeat
Ensemble and premiered at the Austin Arts Center at Trinity College in Hartford.
Also in 2007, Lorena composed, recorded and produced the TV show theme song of "Salu2
Nueva Inglaterra", telecasted by the Spanish Network
Telemundo (WRDM/WDMR Hartford/Springfield). In 2004, original tracks from
Lorena’s first album were used by permission on the Homeowners Video produced by
the Hartford Public Library featuring Hartford Major Eddie Pérez.
Discography
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2011: “Latin Big Beat Sounds”, a 15-track
album composed, recorded & produced by Lorena Garay. Commissioned by the
international TV Sports Network ESPN.
o
2009: “Latin Ska Sounds”, a 15-track album composed,
recorded & produced by Lorena Garay. Commissioned by the international TV
Sports Network ESPN.
o
2007: "Surcari", produced by
Lorena Garay. 2009 Just Plain Folks Third Place Music Award Winner in the
category of South and Central American Album.
o
2003: "La Guitarra de Puerto
Rico", produced by Lorena Garay. Featured CD of the Greater Hartford
Arts Council's 2004 United Arts Gift Giving Campaign.
o
2004: "Fundzilla 2004", a
compilation CD produced by WPKN Radio 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT.
o
2004: Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criolla's
"Navidad Boricua", Lorena Garay on vocals.
o
2003: Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criolla's
"Bomba Le Lé", Lorena Garay on Cuban tres.
o
2003: Daniel Salazar's "Mosaico",
Lorena Garay on rhythm guitar.
o
2001: Daniel Salazar's "Daniel
Salazar", Lorena Garay on rhythm guitar.
o
2001: "New England Landscapes", a
compilation CD produced by the Connecticut Guitar Society.
o
1999: "The Gift of the Guitar", a
compilation CD produced by the Connecticut Guitar Society.
PERFORMING
ARTIST ROSTERS
Lorena Garay and her band, Surcari, are listed on
the following juried rosters:
o
Connecticut Commission on Culture and
Tourism’s Directory of Performing and Teaching Artists
o
New England Foundation for the Arts/New England States Touring (NEST) Program
o
Young Audiences of Connecticut Performing
Artist Roster
Professional ASSOCIATIONS
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American Association of Composers and
Publishers (ASCAP)
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Music Honor Society "Pi Kappa
Lambda"
o
Connecticut Guitar Society
Awards AND ACHIEVEMENTS
o
Grant Recipient, 2011 Hartford Business Development Grants for
Artist Program, created by the City of Hartford, in partnership with the
Greater Hartford Arts Council.
o
Latino de Oro 2009 Award in the Category of
Music, Identidad Latina Hispanic Newspaper. “In recognition of Lorena Garay’s
significant contribution to the Hispanic community and her outstanding
performance in the music field.”
o
Third Place Music Award in the Category of South and Central
American Album for the Album “Surcari”, 2009 Just Plain Folks
Music Awards - the World’s Largest Independent Music Awards.
o
Grant Recipient,
The Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, Springfield, MA.
o
United Arts Operational Grant Recipient,
Greater Hartford Arts Council.
o
Plaque Recognition, CT Association of
Affirmative Action Scholarship Fund.
o
Medal for Excellence, Connecticut National
Guard.
o
Guitar Department Award, The Hartt School,
University of Hartford.
o
String Department Gold Medal Award,
Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico.
o
Tuition Scholarship & Teaching
Fellowship Recipient, The Hartt School, University of Hartford.
o
Scholarship Recipient, Robert I. Ferdman, Pro
Arte Musical, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
o
Scholarship Recipient, “Corporación de las
Artes Musicales”, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
o
Biography Published in Various Annual
Editions of the National Dean's List.
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