A Mexican-born guitarist known on three continents for her warm sound, fluid technique, and natural musicality, with a deep affinity for the music of Latin America
“An arresting performance … a fluid, colorful style.” — The New York Times
Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at 7:30 pm
The Diller-Quaile School of Music
24 East 95th Street
New York City (see map)
Tickets:: Click here to order or call (800) 838-3006.
Individual ticket prices: $18 / $15 for students, seniors, and NYCCGS members. Join now.
Program:
PICCINI Ciaccona Variata
BACH Prelude, Fugue and Allegro; Partita No. 2 in D Minor
LAURO Cueca Chilena
TRADITIONAL MEXICAN Llorana
BROUWER Paisaje Cubano con Campanas and Fandangos y Boleros
Zaira Meneses is among the most exciting performers on the international classical guitar circuit. Her musicality and charisma have delighted audiences on three continents in a wide variety of programs, ranging from solo recitals to chamber music to highly acclaimed performances as soloist with orchestra. Recent achievements include a special prize from Italy’s prestigious Academia Chigiana and the recording of several solo CDs.
Ms. Meneses was born in Xalapa, Mexico. From an early age she showed great talent for music, studying both classical guitar and voice and appearing frequently in a wide variety of venues both as a guitarist and singer. She traveled widely, performing as well with the famed Orquesta de Guitarras founded by Maestro Alfonso Moreno. At the age of seventeen and as the youngest contestant, she won first prize in an important national concerto competition in the legendary guitar mecca of Paracho. This success led to performances of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Concierto Madrigal for two guitars throughout Mexico.
Since moving to the United States in 2001, Meneses has built a stellar reputation for her warm sound, limpid technique and superb natural musicality performing in many of the great concert halls of the world including Boston’s Jordan Hall, New York City’s 92nd St. Y and Lincoln Center, and Salzburg’s Wiener Saal. An unusual aspect of her work in chamber music has been collaborations with eminent pianists such as Jon Kimura Parker and Virginia Eskin, with whom she has often appeared in lecture-recital format.
Ms. Meneses has served as Artist-in-Residence at prestigious universities throughout the United States and recently began a long-term association with Syracuse University. She lives in Boston with her husband, internationally acclaimed guitarist Eliot Fisk, and their 10-year-old daughter, Raquel. She is Director of Community Outreach and Student Affairs for Boston Guitar Fest and Artistic Director of the new cross-disciplinary cultural initiative Guitar and Friends for which she was awarded a special grant by the Albert Augustine Foundation. In both of these positions she continues to enliven the cultural life of the city of Boston through outreach activities in schools, churches, museums, and hospitals, while maintaining a demanding touring schedule in the Americas and Europe.
