The Cuatro Festival and Concert is a multi-faceted educational arts program featuring the mandolin-like Puerto Rican instrument know as el cuatro. Daytime Cuatro Festival activities will provide an educational workshop/performance activity to an estimated 3,000 Chicago Public School students. The workshops teach the history of the cuatro, how it is made, and typical music composed on the instrument. An evening cultural concert performance will follow, reaching out to another 3,600 people. Guest artists are accomplished musicians traveling from throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The Festival also focuses on providing elementary and high school students the opportunity to perform in a professional, live concert setting. The Cuatro Festival and concert not only presents the Cuatro as the centerpiece of Puerto Rican cultural traditions; it also educates younger generations of Puerto Ricans and introduces this musical craft to non-Latino populations.

The PRAA has developed an after school music program in partnership with the Music Express School of Chicago. This program offers free classes to children and adults of all ages who are interested in learning about the traditional music of the cuatro ten-string guitar and the more familiar six string acoustic guitar. The classes are offered four hours weekly during the months of October through May.

Last year the program served over 125 students through four Public Elementary and High Schools, and the Humboldt Park Field House. The program is also part of a long-range effort to create permanent artistic projects in the community where Puerto Ricans reside. The classes offer specific learning experiences about the traditions of music in Puerto Rico: how certain rhythms evolved, the basis of contemporary Latin music and, most importantly, the evolutionary history of the cuatro and its significance to Puerto Rican culture and music traditions.

The classes are taught by David and Orlando Rivera, two highly skilled teachers who both hold degrees in music education. The classes are based on music fundamentals in guitar utilizing orchestral learning methods at the beginning level. Students learn five complete guitar or cuatro pieces based on traditional music, and the classes culminate in an evening of musical performances by beginning and intermediate levels.

PRAA also provides musical performances during special events featuring students or members of the Music Express School of Chicago. To request a performance please contact our Program Coordinator, Maria Nieves at misanieves@sbcglobal.net