Mar 07, 2013
Festival Activities by secret blogger
Successful festival with many guitar students attending from all over the world. Canada, Ukraine, Mexico, Hungry, Bolivia, Alemania. Maestros who give master classes and concerts come from Spain, New York, Paraguay,Russia, Mexico and Cuba. The week starts with the student competition, 3 days of playing by various people. On the 3rd day the winner is chosen. Prize $5000.00 U.S. Dollars. This winner is from Ukraine. The winner will play with the Culiacan Orchestra next year at the festival. It is a week of intense learning, socializing, eating with little time to sleep. Good thing it only happens once a year. Culiacan is a beautiful and very safe city. It is known for it’s education with many universities. This is the plan of the government to tackle the drug problem. Many say that Culiacan is much safer than Mazatlan. I find both very safe but prefer Mazatlan because it is smaller, less modern and I know the city better. Comments and Pictures below.
Below, Ricardo Gallen and myself. Ricardo is from Spain. Fabulous guitarist who Contessa and myself got to know very well last year. Yes he said, come to visit me in spain or in New York.
And for the record I must ad a photo from last year of Contessa the queen blogger with her new great friends Ricardo and Diego
Below, Heriberto, Isela, David Russell and his beautiful wife Maria. David and Maria are from Spain. One of the top guitarists in the world who travels world wide and has established foundations in needy countries. Contessa and myself had good discussions with them over diner last year. Wonderful people. It is a small world – my guitar teacher in Kelowna British Columbia knows David very well and actually spent time in England with David when he was studying the guitar. Alan Rinehart says to say Hi to you, David
Autograph by Maestro
David Russell in concert
I have to ad an image from last year that includes my lovely wife Contessa who I miss so much. Unfortunately she was unable to come to the festival this year and had to stay home to rest ,Below Contessa with David and Maria
Below,David, Maria, Heriberto, Isela and Berta Rojas and of course , me. Berta is from Paraguay. Her music so lovely. She has a sincere passion for the guitar and plays it like it is a piece of her. What a lovely lady and how compassionate she is. Between pieces she stopped to talk to the audience about her experiences and life as if the audience was in her living room. Following are some photos of her in concert.
Below, Our diner after the concert by Berta. What a fabulous get together. We ate at a high class chinese restaurant. Food was best I have ever had at a chinese restaurant. (I am starting to type like words are spoken in Spanish, leaving the “thes” etc). After diner Berta played, Isela sang and then Heriberto played. A night in my life to remember. Photos below
And the winner of the student competition, Marko Topchii from the Ukraine , he didn’t know at this moment – he was practising on stage and the cleaning ladies came on right infront of him and damp mopped all around him. Congratulations on the win in a very competitive group. All guitarist here are capable of being top musicians according to the judges. Now I must get ready to go to tonight’s concert by julio Cesar Olivia from Mexico.
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Oh how I want to be there…..great write up mi amore!!
Excellent! I wish I could hear some of it.
Hola
Regressando hace cinco minutos. En la Nochas una fabulosa guitarista para Ciudade de Mexico. Mucho talento en mucho differente typos de musica. Nombre Julio Cesar Oliva , mi nuevo amigo. Gran comida a la restaurante italiano. Pizza, Pasta pan etc. Mi estomigo muy yeno. Ahora Heriberto ha dicho tocar el guitarra Colin- mi responde ?es tu loco? Caramba, Mucho comunicado en espanio, mas , mas nuevo parablas. Mi comprendo 90% de conversation. Manana Orchestra con dos espectaculares guitarristas. Viernes, Musicos de ciudad de Mexico – Chris Lobos. El mejor musician de jazz en el mondo. Necesita Kevin y Linda aqui.
Mucho Besos y abrasos para mi amor por quien estoy triste pues no esta aqui. Thank you to Christian for reviewing these notes and helping me with minor corrections. He says that I have done very well. Whew! 5 years ago when I went out for diner with the maestros and organizers of this great event, there was much frustration because conversation happened and I felt like I was on a different planet. Very hard. Culiacan is not a Canadian or American destination and at this festival it is in total spanish at the events and at the social times. As well in the home of Heriberto. I must say that I am now getting it, understanding most of everything. New words are always being added and the puzzle is coming together.
When I get up in the morning I will review today’s pictures and continue in my job as assistant blogger to my very pretty wife. Time right now is 2 am. Up by most likely 7 am when all the vendors with loud speakers drive by. Buenos noches a todo
C
Sure looks like another wonderful experience for everyone involved.
Goog Morning Colin. Thank goodness I can read and understand what you wrote. Kevin & Linda are unable to come Friday. Carmeh was sick again about 7PM and then 1:30AM. No more blood. She ten wanted to go out but I had to carry her in and out. Just to pee, thank goodness. She wouldn’t lay down so I tried kibble and that was a no but she took about 8 broken up mini treats and then lost of water. then she would not come to bed so I slept on the sofa with her just in case she got sick again. She just got up so I have yet to take her out or to feed her. Needless to stay I am very stiff and sore.
Have a good day and just enjoy. We are managing just fine.
So nice to hear your voice in my head. Cuddles to my Carmeh.
C