Please note: The date of this concert has been changed to September 30.

Doors open at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:30pm.

Nilko Andreas Guarin, the guitarist who opened Sounds of the City ten seasons ago, returns with violinist Blanca Cecilia Gonzales for a candlelight evening of music.

We will be collecting donations for the Selva Adentro

Blanca Cecilia Gonzalez (Violin) and Nilko Andreas Guarin (Guitar), will take you on a musical journey, where you will experience a taste of Colombian , Latin-American and European folk Music. The duo will share their knowledge of how traditional music has been an important influence and source of inspiration throughout the years and how the folkloric element has influenced the development of classical music all by Sounds of the City’s breathtaking candlelight.

Coming from Latin-America, the New York City based the duo will lead an interactive presentation that will focus on the exploration of sounds, rhythms, and melodies hailing from the Andes region in South America, as well as finding linear connections with other parts of the world with similar musical history. They will explore all of these musical elements with their violin and guitar, as well as their voices. The human voice and poetry, as well as instruments such as these are timeless and universal and play an important role in the evolution of our humanity.

Some of the composers you will get to know include: A. Piazzolla,(Argentina) B. Bartok, (Hungary), N. Paganini, (Italy), Jose A. Morales, Fulgencio Garcia, Nilko A. Guarin, (Colombia)

Gonzalez Guarin Duo

Renowned artists, Blanca Cecilia Gonzalez (Violin) and Nilko Andreas Guarin (Guitar), have been performing as soloists and chamber musicians in different stages around the world, and with different orchestras and ensembles. They have come together as a duo with the purpose of exploring and contributing to preserve this millenary, enchanting and intimate, nevertheless, humble music ensemble. Their repertoire consists of original and traditional music, from different parts of the world and different periods.

Since the beginning of their collaboration in 2017 they have been captivating audiences with their academic fidelity, unusual chemistry, and solid stage presence.

Coming from Latin-America, the New York City based the duo will lead an interactive presentation that will focus on the exploration of sounds, rhythms, and melodies hailing from the Andes region in South America, as well as finding linear connections with other parts of the world with similar musical history. They will explore all of these musical elements with their violin and guitar, as well as their voices. The human voice and poetry, as well as instruments such as these are timeless and universal and play an important role in the evolution of our humanity.

Some of the composers you will get to know include: A. Piazzolla,(Argentina) B. Bartok, (Hungary), N. Paganini, (Italy), Jose A. Morales, Fulgencio Garcia, Nilko A. Guarin, (Colombia)

Blanca Cecilia Gonzalez

Colombian violinist Blanca Cecilia González has been making music for over 25 years, sharing her love and passion with audiences on stages across North America, South America and Europe. An avid and active collaborator and diversified player, her projects range from traditional classical to jazz, contemporary, rock, folk and world music. Blanca began traditional conservatory training at age four and made her debut as a young performer on Colombian National Television at the early age of 6. Her classical training began with Maestro Luis Maria Diaz with the Suzuki Method alongside Colombian traditional folkloric songs. Since making her homebase in New York City, Blanca has embarked on a musical journey exploring different styles of music and expression. She has won several competitions and awards and as a result has performed as a soloist with orchestras in New York and Philadelphia, including the Ambler Symphony, Queens College Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra Society, Jeunes Virtuoses de New York amongst others. Blanca holds a B.M. from the Aaron Copland School of Music where she focused her violin studies -for nearly a decade- with the violinist and pedagogue Arik Braude. She completed her M.M. in violin performance at the Juilliard School studying with Lewis Kaplan, and exploring contemporary music under the direction of Joel Sachs, orchestral performance under the baton of Alan Gilbert amongst others. Joined by her husband, pianist and Music Director of Postmodern Jukebox, Jesse Elder and Blanca founded the duo 1in2 and the ElderChild Inc. with the purpose of exploring musical styles while creating their own sounds blurring the lines of genres. Their projects have taken them across the country as a duo and within mixed ensembles collaborating with vocalists, dancers, acrobats and visual artists. Blanca newest musical exploration and collaboration with renowned guitarist Nilko Andreas Guarin is taking her back to her home continent, childhood and roots. As a five year participant of Alfred’s own MostArts festival, Blanca is honored and excited to share this musical adventure with the inhabitants of this beautiful region.

Nilko Andreas

Since his Carnegie Hall solo debut, (2009) multi-faceted touring artist Nilko Andreas has been entertaining audiences in three continents as an internationally awarded classical guitarist, Composer, Actor, Music Director as well as a singer (La Cumbiamba eNeYe, LaMar NYC), Born in Colombia, he carries the musical legacy of his mother land, layered with his experiences as a leading classical musician around the world and 22 years of living, performing as a soloist and chamber Musician, producing and conducting in New York City. He has performed almost every major concerto for guitar and orchestra including the famous “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Joaquin Rodrigo

He is the founder of the “Amazonas” series presented at Carnegie Hall since 2010, with a heavy interest on raising awareness over environmental damage. He recently performed the role of “Don Quixote” in the acclaimed Musical “The Man of La Mancha” by Musical Theater Heritage, His passion for Spain and for the work of Federico Garcia Lorca made him collaborate and produce many Lorca plays Including “La zapatera prodigiosa” (Spanish repertory theater NYC) his collaboration with grupo “Artificio Theater” lead to rave reviews and awards. he conceived and directed “Asi Canta Federico” and interactive concert around the life and work of Garcia Lorca, With emphasis in the Sephardic spirit of the South of Spain performing Music in Ladino. 

An accomplished educator, Nilko Andreas has given master classes and conferences on classical guitar, LatinAmerican  and Colombian Music in universities and conservatories around the world.

He is the Founder of the Latin American Chamber Music Society and Founder of Azlo Productions. www.nikoandreas.com