Zaira Meneses is a Mexican classical guitarist how performs and records classical guitar pieces alone or with orchestral groups.

Early career edit

Meneses was born in Veracruz, Mexico[1] and started playing classical guitar when she was 7-years old.[2] As a teenager, Meneses co-founded and toured with the Orquesta de Guitarras de Xalapa as its youngest member.[3][1] When she was 17, Meneses won the top prize at a national guitar competition in Paracho de Verduzco.[2] Upon moving to the United States Meneses studied at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she currently serves as a professor.[4]

Recent projects edit

Meneses has performed in concert halls such as Carnegie Hall,[5] Boston,[6] and the 92nd Street Y in New York City, where The New York Times said that her performance had "a fluid and colorful style".[7] Meneses has also performed at Boston's Jordan Hall,[8] the Wiener Saal in Salzburg, and the Great Hall of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.[9][better source needed] In 2008 she played a concert in Texas with the Russian guitarist Grisha Goryachev.[10] In 2013, Meneses performed in Pennsylvania with her daughter, Raquel Fisk, and her husband Eliot Fisk.[11]

Meneses albums include "Wunderbach" that was released in 2018,[12] and an album featuring renditions of Johann Sebastian Bach music.[13] She has performed with the Cuban musician Leo Brouwer who went on to compose "'Preludio Elegiaco" explicitly for her to perform.[14]

Meneses is the founder of the Boston GuitarFest which she has served as the festival's co-director for nearly two decades.[15] She is also the artistic director of Latin American Music Festival[16] as well as the founder of a Latin American Orchestra "Unidos".[17] She and her husband co-founded the Eliot Fisk Guitar Academy.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "The Second Event of the U.S. International Guitar Series Season 2021 is Just Around the Corner! Buy Your Tickets Now and Listen to Zaira Meneses!". Guitar Salon International. 9 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "En honor a la mujer la Filarmónica del Estado ofreció concierto – Periódico Espectáculo y Cultura de Chihuahua". pagina8.com.mx. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  3. ^ "Zaira Meneses". Augustine Strings. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "Zaira Meneses". New England Conservatory.
  5. ^ "Zaira Meneses". New York Latin Culture. 8 December 2016.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Andrew (11 November 2011). "Sounding a note of caution through music: Playing for the Planet unites activist musicians". Boston Globe ; Boston, Mass. pp. G.26 – via Proquest.
  7. ^ Kozinn, Allan (February 6, 2011). "Eliot Fisk, Guitarist, at 92nd Street Y - Review". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Gantz, Jeffrey (June 21, 2011). "Boston Guitarfest ends on a strong note". Boston.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Garcia, Leo (2016-12-13). "Artist Spotlight and Interview: Zaira Meneses". Six String Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  10. ^ Shaw, Punch (2008-05-24). "Guitarists' concert is well worth the wait". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. pp. A16. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  11. ^ Siegel, Steve (2013-10-06). "Music is family affair for guitarist Eliot Fisk". The Morning Call. pp. [1], [2]. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  12. ^ "Zaira Meneses :: Back Bay Chorale". Back Bay Chorale. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Keaton, Kenneth (2019). "BACH: Prelude, Fugue, & Allegro; Violin Sonata 2". American Record Guide; Washington. Vol. 82, no. 2. p. 59 – via Proquest.
  14. ^ Small, Mark (2021). "An Afro-Cuban Legacy". Acoustic Guitar ; San Anselmo. No. 331. pp. 30–33 – via Proquest.
  15. ^ "About - Boston GuitarFest 2022". Boston GuitarFest 2022. April 6, 2022. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ a b Small, Mark (2023). "Ceaseless Questing". Acoustic Guitar; San Anselm0. No. 339. pp. 24–26, 28 – via Proquest.
  17. ^ "Unidos – LAMF". Retrieved 2024-05-17.

External links edit