about this event
Internationally acclaimed by the critics, renowned soloist of the "arpa paraguaya" (Paraguayan harp), composer, author, educator and recording artist, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz considers his "most important concerts" PLAYING THE HARP IN THE DELIVERY ROOM during the birth of his second daughter, New Year's Eve, 1980, and also for the birth of a grandson from each one of his two daughters.
Alfredo was born in Cuba. When he was eleven years old he immigrated with his family to Venezuela and at the age of fifteen began studying the Venezuelan folk harp, then a year later the Paraguayan harp. Just two years after his first harp lesson, he began medical school in Medellín, Colombia, began performing professionally and recorded his first album. Music supported his medical studies until graduation, and for a further eight years he combined medicine, performance and recording After moving to the USA he studied Music Therapy, and eventually, in order to have time for his growing family, decided to dedicate his life only to them and to his first love: the harp.
With a multicultural repertoire that covers folk, classical and popular music from many countries, as well as his original compositions, Alfredo has performed for audiences of all ages and backgrounds, throughout the world. He has recorded many albums and is the winner of a GOLD RECORD in South America. He has lectured on a variety of subjects at universities, colleges, harp conventions and harp festivals, is the author of several harp music books and articles and his compositions have been performed and recorded by pedal, lever and folk harpists around the world.
His acclaimed “South American Suite for Harp and Orchestra” premiered in 1996 and he has since performed it with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, also in Venezuela, Guatemala, Brazil, Turkey, New Zealand, Israel and with several orchestras in the USA, including with the Corona Symphony Orchestra, California in October 2024.
On July 22, 2008, during the Tenth World Harp Congress in Amsterdam, his composition CUMBIA VERDE, created for four harps or harp ensemble, was premiered by 232 harpists, the largest harp ensemble to date.
The World Premiere of his composition CUBAN DREAM AFTER THE STORM, for four pedal harps, was performed by the Chicago Harp Quartet at Carnegie Hall, New York in 2015. The same quartet performed the World Premiere of his composition "PENSAMIENTOS" FOR 4 HARPS at the Teatro Nacional (National Theatre), Havana, Cuba in 2017.
visit: https://alfredoharp.com
Official YouTube Artist Channel, YouTube.com/AlfredoRolandoOrtiz.