Lorena Garay, a native of Puerto Rico, loves to perform music with a strong Spanish guitar flavor, both as a soloist and a multi-instrumentalist, in various groups including "SURCARI". Coming from a Latin music background, she is also trained in classical guitar with a Master of Music degree from The Hartt School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico.
"Lorena's guitar arrangements and compositions beautifully blend the classical guitar with Latin rhythms. This is a unique feature of her style. She plays a range of solo styles from traditional classical guitar, to a beautiful blend of Spanish guitar and lively Latin rhythms."
Education Lorena earned her Master of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, where she received the Guitar Department Award. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, from which she received the String Department Gold Medal Award. Lorena graduated summa cum laude from both schools. In addition, she graduated with high honors from "La Escuela Libre de Música" in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Recordings Lorena Garay's first recording, "La Guitarra de Puerto Rico" was chosen to be featured as part of the Greater Hartford Arts Council's 2004 United Arts Gift Giving Campaign. It has been praised for Lorena's original compositions and fresh arrangements of Latin music for the classical guitar. Lorena Garay's second recording: "Surcari" is a blend of traditional and contemporary Latin American, Andean, Afro-Caribbean, Spanish, and world music fused with the sounds of the classical guitar, Andean panpipes, and Latin percussion. Lorena is also featured on two compilation CDs produced by the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society: "New England Landscapes" and "The Gift of the Guitar". In addition, she recorded on Daniel Salazar's CDs: "Mosaico" and self-titled "Daniel Salazar", as part of his contemporary ensemble. She also recorded on Jose Gonzalez's CDs: "Navidad Boricua" and "Bomba Le Le", which feature his "Banda Criolla". She is also featured on "Fundzilla 2004", a compilation CD produced by WPKN Radio 89.5 FM in Bridgeport, CT.
Studies include: classical guitar under Richard Provost and Leonardo Egurbida; flamenco guitar with Jose R. Ramos and Carlos Revollar; jazz guitar with Rich Goldstein; and Cuban tres with Nelson González. Lorena started her guitar studies with Rafael Paris and Héctor Hance.
Master Classes attended include: classes with renowned international guitarists Pepe and Angel Romero, Ricardo Cobos, Andrew York, Julian Gray and Ivan Rijos, among others. She has also attended various prestigious guitar workshops, including the Guitar Foundation of America International Convention in Montreal, Canada; the National Guitar Summer Workshop in New Milford, Connecticut; and The Stetson International Guitar Workshop in DeLand, Florida.
Music Organizations Lorena is affiliated to various music organizations including: The American Association of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP), the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), the Music Honor Society "Pi Kappa Lambda", and the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society (CCGS), where she served as a board member for two years.
Performance Highlights Lorena's most important performances include Princeton University, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, among others. At the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Pennsylvania, she was the opening act for renowned guitar duo Strunz and Farrah. Lorena performs regularly with well known groups such as José González's "Criollo Clasico", "The Daniel Salazar Ensemble" and "Trio Surcari". She is a former band member of groups such as "Viva Quetzal", "Sol Sin Fronteras" and "Son del Este". She has also performed concerts with Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Roy Brown, Puerto Rican concert guitarist Federico Cordero, and Puerto Rican flamenco guitarist Val Ramos.
Lorena has also appeared in performance at: Western Carolina University-Recital Hall, Cullowhee, North Carolina; The Bushnell, Hartford, Connecticut; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts; Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York; Keene State College, Keene, New Hampshire; Nauticus National Maritime Center, Norfolk, Virginia; Isothermal Community College, Spindale, North Carolina; University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island; Middle Earth Music Hall, Bradford, Vermont; University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts; WV Cultural Center Theater at State Capitol Complex, Charleston, West Virginia; Feria del Barrio Festival, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Festival Artscape, Baltimore, Maryland; Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Massachusetts; Colgate University, Hamilton, New York; Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island; St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, New York; Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut; Calvin Theater, Northampton, Massachusetts; Casa Aboy, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Park Performing Arts Center, Union City, New Jersey; Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut; University of Connecticut, West Hartford, Connecticut; Gateway Community College, New Haven, Connecticut; Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, Vermont; Hillstead Museum, Farmington, Connecticut; 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.
Teaching Experience (Currently, Lorena is not teaching guitar in order to devote all her time to her performing career.) Lorena Garay is a former faculty member of The Hartt School Community Division of the University of Hartford, CT. Lorena's teaching experience include: teaching music appreciation at the American International College, School of Continuing Education, Springfield, MA; guitar and Puerto Rican cuatro at the Community Music School of Springfield, Springfield, MA; coaching the CCGS guitar ensemble, Connecticut Classical Guitar Society, Hartford, CT; and teaching guitar and Puerto Rican cuatro at Guakia, a Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Hartford, CT. For two years in a row, she was a guest artist at Danzante, A Latino Cultural Center, Arts & Music Summer Camp, Harrisburg, PA.
Awards Lorena has received various awards including: the Guitar Department Award, The Hartt School of Music; the String Department Gold Medal Award, Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico; Medal for Excellence, Connecticut National Guard; Plaque Recognition, The CT Association of Affirmative Action Scholarship Fund; United Arts Operational Grant, Greater Hartford Arts Council; Tuition Scholarship and Teaching Fellowship, Hartt School of Music; Robert I. Ferdman Scholarship, "Pro Arte Musical", San Juan, PR; Musical Arts Corporation Scholarship, San Juan, PR; Biography Published in the 18th & 19th Annual Editions of the National Dean's List. |
