Sam Houston State University’s School of Music will host a faculty recital led by Alejandro Montiel, D.M.A., on April 20 at 7 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center.
Montiel, a graduate from Peabody Conservatory and the University of Texas, has performed in numerous master classes with the world’s greatest players and pedagogues and was a finalist in the 2006 and 2007 Texas Guitar Competition and Festival.
Montiel currently leads a full time guitar studio at SHSU and is a founder of the Texas Guitar Quartet.
“I’ve been playing guitar since 1995 and teaching at Sam since 2008, specifically in classical guitar.” Montiel said. “If you know dance, classical guitar would be the ballet of guitar. Classical guitar is technique oriented but it provides a very solid foundation for students.”
Montiel tries to perform at least once a year for SHSU, whether it be with faculty or with his guitar quartet. However, this will be his first year to lead the event musically.
“This is a chamber recital and I am going to play in every piece,” Montiel said. “I will be joined on stage by Kathy Daniel, flute faculty, Daniel Saenez, who is cello faculty and Isaac Bustos, a guitar professor at Texas A&M.”
Montiel said the audience can expect various levels of music from all styles.
“Everyone should hear what the guitar is capable of,” Montiel said. “A lot of people have this idea that the guitar is only a string instrument but it can factor so much more. To hear it along side more traditional instruments, such as the cello and the flute, I feel that others will find the sound to be interesting.”
The performers have practiced for weeks in order to prepare. Montiel said the guitar duet is the hardest to perfect.
As this is the first time in a few years that Montiel has performed with his colleagues, he feels that now is the perfect time to reunite on stage.
The event is free to all SHSU students.