DESCRIPTION:
Premiere performance of Gonzalo Grau's "Fantasia de Guayaba Habanera" - a work for solo violin, string orchestra and a salsa band, written for me and commissioned by Community Music Works, an award-winning after-school music program in Providence, RI. (www.communitymusicworks.org)

As you can see, the strings were comprised of CMW students and teachers. Gonzalo and I spent the week of the premiere in Providence, working with the kids and getting to know them. Prior to our visit, the amazing teachers of CMW worked tirelessly on the piece with the kids for about 6 weeks. There was also a wonderful effort to involve the larger community in this celebration of Latin culture. The result was very special - it felt like this new piece and the premiere belonged to everyone: the kids , teachers, band members and audience alike. Huge thanks to Sebastian Ruth, Kimberly Young, all the teachers, students and parents in the CMW community, as well as Latin community leaders: you guys made this show happen - I will never forget it!

CMW Players: Violins: Lisa Barksdale, Minna Choi, EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, Ealain McMullin, Sebastian Ruth, Charles "Chase" Spruill, IV.
Violas: Annalisa Boerner, Jesse Holstein
Cellos: Lauren Latessa, Adrienne Taylor

Special thanks to the salsa band: Gonzalo Grau (composer/piano), Mike Ringquist (percussion), Mathias Kunzli (percussion), Pablo Bencid (percussion), Dan Brantigan (trumpet), Lennie Peterson (trombone) and Shawn Conley (bass). You guys are awesome!

Big thanks to Jori Ketten, who made this beautiful video!

Thanks for watching - if you like it, share it!

JG

www.communitymusicworks.org
www.gonzalograu.com
www.johnnygandelsman.com