Tres Mujeres, Tres Estrellas
Saturday, November 18, 2023 @ 7pm
Harris Theater at Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL
25th Annual National Cuatro Festival Program Book
Welcome to the 25th Annual National Cuatro Festival!
The Cuatro is regarded as the national instrument of Puerto Rico and is revered by the Puerto Rican community as an important part of our history. It is recognized and acknowledged as “our guitar” and holds important traditional and historical value. The Emmy Award-winning Annual National Cuatro Festival (NCF) is a unique music event that brings the best Cuatro musicians “Cuatristas” from Puerto Rico and the mainland to Chicago for a one-of-a-kind concert experience. This cultural event highlights the national instrument of Puerto Rico as an important part of our heritage and history.
Each year there is a special dedication and one of the highlights of the concert is an opening performance showcasing students from the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance’s Latin Music Project Ensemble. It is more than a concert, it as a gathering of Chicago’s most long time Latino residents, the Puerto Rican community, and an opportunity to join together with pride to celebrate the beauty of the Chicago’s diversity. Preserving Puerto Rican traditions is at the heart of PRAA’s work and the National Cuatro Festival is a key part of our cultural and educational initiatives.
Over the years the National Cuatro Festival has presented great cuatristas like Yomo Toro, Pedro Guzman, Alvin Medina, Luis Sanz, Prodijio Claudio, Christina Nieves, Manny Trinidad, Emma Colon Zayas, Madibel Delgado, Juradito, Quique Domenech, Javier Mendez, among others. Additionally, great iconic popular and folk music singers/groups such as Victoria Sanabria, Tavin Pumarejo, Odilo Gonzalez, Felito Felix, Andy Montañez, Yolandita Monge, Charlie Aponte, Ismael Miranda, Jose Nogueras, Los Cantores de Bayamon, Mapeye, La Rondalla de Humacao, Puerto Rico Philharmonic, Angel Cucco Peña, Jose Luis Ortiz, Los Hermanos Olvarria, Andres Jimenez, Modesto Nieves, Angel Luis Torruellas, Los Hermanos Sanz and Danny Rivera have graced our stage.
Bienvenidos a la 25ª edición del Festival Nacional de Cuatro
El Cuatro es considerado el instrumento nacional de Puerto Rico y es venerado por la comunidad puertorriqueña como una parte importante de nuestra historia. Es reconocido como "nuestra guitarra" y posee un valor importante tradicional e histórico. El Festival Nacional Anual de Cuatro (NCF), reconocido con un premio Emmy, es un evento musical único que trae a Chicago a los mejores cuatristas de Puerto Rico y del continente para vivir una experiencia de concierto única. Este evento cultural destaca el instrumento nacional de Puerto Rico como una parte importante de nuestro patrimonio e historia.
Cada año hay una dedicatoria especial y uno de los momentos culminantes del concierto es una actuación inaugural en la que participan estudiantes del Conjunto del Proyecto de Música Latina de la Alianza de las Artes Puertorriqueñas. Es más que un concierto, es una reunión de los residentes latinos más históricos de Chicago, la comunidad puertorriqueña, y una oportunidad de unirse con orgullo para celebrar la belleza de la diversidad de Chicago. Preservar las tradiciones puertorriqueñas está en el corazón del trabajo de PRAA y el Festival Nacional del Cuatro es una parte clave de nuestras iniciativas culturales y educativas.
A lo largo de los años el Festival Nacional de Cuatro ha presentado a grandes cuatristas como Yomo Toro, Pedro Guzmán, Alvin Medina, Luis Sanz, Prodijio Claudio, Christina Nieves, Manny Trinidad, Emma Colón Zayas, Madibel Delgado, Juradito, Quique Domenech, Javier Méndez, entre otros. Además, grandes cantantes/grupos icónicos de la música popular y folclórica como Victoria Sanabria, Tavin Pumarejo, Odilo González, Felito Félix, Andy Montañez, Yolandita Monge, Charlie Aponte, Ismael Miranda, José Nogueras, Los Cantores de Bayamón, Mapeye, La Rondalla de Humacao, Puerto Rico Philharmonic, Angel Cucco Peña, Jose Luis Ortiz, Los Hermanos Olvarria, Andres Jimenez, Modesto Nieves, Angel Luis Torruellas, Los Hermanos Sanz y Danny Rivera han honrado nuestro escenario.
When you buy a ticket you are helping PRAA !
Your ticket purchase to this year’s National Cuatro Festival will make an even greater impact on the 15,000 children and youth PRAA serves annually through educational music and arts programs. PRAA relies heavily on the ability to “socially gather” to raise cultural awareness and resources that enable us to offer high quality, one-of-a-kind music and arts experiences to more than 30,000 participants each year.
Proceeds from the NCF are reinvested into our year-around music and arts educational programs and other cultural presentations. Your support over the years has been the key to keeping our doors open.
For Sponsorship inquiries contact Nancy Ward
nancy@praachicago.org or 773-342-8865 Ext.# 2
¡Cuando compras una taquilla estás ayudando a PRAA!
La compra de taquillas para el Festival Nacional Cuatro de este año tendrá un impacto aún mayor en los 15,000 niños y jóvenes a los que PRAA presta servicio anualmente a través de programas educativos de música y arte. PRAA depende en gran medida de la capacidad de "reunirse socialmente" para aumentar la conciencia cultural y los recursos que nos permiten ofrecer experiencias musicales y artísticas únicas y de alta calidad a más de 30.000 participantes cada año.
Los ingresos del NCF se reinvierten en nuestros programas educativos de música y arte durante todo el año y en otras presentaciones culturales. Su apoyo a lo largo de los años ha sido la clave para mantener nuestras puertas abiertas.
Para consultas sobre patrocinio, contáctese con Nancy Ward
nancy@praachicago.org or 773-342-8865 Ext.# 2
Emma Colón Zayas
Born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, Emma Colón Zayas has dedicated her entire life to Puerto Rican folk music. Her passion for music has led her to perfect her technique as a cuatro player, güiro player, and a singer-songwriter of Puerto Rican folk music. In 1982, she obtained the Fist National Güiro Prize and, on 1986, she obtained the First National Cuatro Prize, being the first person and only woman to achieve these awards. She has represented Puerto Rico in different countries, such as Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, and España.
Nacida en Orocovis, Puerto Rico, Emma Colón Zayas ha dedicado toda su vida a la música campesina. Su pasión por la música la ha llevado a perfeccionar su técnica como cuatrista, güirista y cantautora de la música campesina. En el 1982 obtuvo el Primer Premio Nacional del Güiro y en el 1986 el Primer Premio Nacional del Cuatro, siendo la primera persona y única mujer en obtener ambos galardones. Ha representado a Puerto Rico en distintos países como Japón, Argentina, México, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba y España.
Tres Mujeres, Tres Estrellas
Three Women, Three Stars
Fabiola Méndez
Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Fabiola Méndez, B.M began playing the cuatro when she was 6 years old. Méndez is a cuatro player, singer, composer, and educator. Her artistic vision and original music focus on the exploration of her culture, her ancestry, and her identities.
Nacida en Caguas, Puerto Rico, Fabiola Méndez, B.M empezó a tocar el cuatro a los seis años. Méndez es una cuatrista, cantante, compositora y educadora. Su visión artística y música original se enfocan en la exploración de su cultura, su ascendencia y sus identidades.
Featured Artists
Maribel Delgado
Born in Camuy, Puerto Rico, Maribel Delgado is a recognized cuatro player in her island and internationally for her instrumental talent and her contributions to the education of said instrument. She’s played in different concerts throughout the world, such as in Spain, Portugal, Chile, and many more.
Nacida en Camuy, Puerto Rico, Maribel Delgado es una cuatrista reconocida en su isla y mundialmente por sus talentos instrumentales y sus contribuciones a la educación del cuatro. Ha tocado en varios conciertos a través del mundo, tales como en España, Portugal, Chile y muchos más.
Celenia Sánchez Mata
Celenia Sánchez Mata was born in Valencia, Venezuela. Since her early childhood, she showed a genuine tendency towards different artistic facets. Backup singer for Elvis Crespo, Celenia has also participated in projects for Sábado Gigante, Olga Tañón, Alejandro Sanz, Charlie Sepúlveda, Carlos Vives, Vico C, Rosario Flores, among others.
Latin Music Project Ensemble
The Latin Music Project Ensemble is the most advance level students can reach at the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance music school. This year they will be accompanied by an orchestra of 20 intermediate music students.
Mara Ayala
Commissioned Artist
Mara Ayala was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Her work has been exhibited in Chicago, Ohio, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. The inspiration for the Cuatro Festival Official Image: “Naturaleza Viva” (Living Nature) was the Puerto Rican woman. Full of life, love, strength, pride and dreams.
EMCEES
Iris Berríos
Iris Berríos is a News Reporter for Noticiero Telemundo Chicago bilingual journalist, the local station serving the Spanish-speaking community in the Chicago, Illinois area. She is originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico.
National Cuatro Festival Dedication
Every year the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance dedicates its National Cuatro Festival to an individual or institution that has demonstrated a life time of cultural achievement or whose social/economic work has positively impacted the Puerto Rican community.
We are honored to dedicate PRAA’s 25th National Cuatro Festival to la Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular due to its exemplary artistic accomplishments that have elevated Puerto Rico’s presence locally and internationally. La Fundación’s documentation efforts to raise awareness of Puerto Rico’s artistic talent and provide critical space for music, theater, film, journalism, and other art forms is commendable.
Mike Oquendo
Mike Oquendo is a proud Chicago born Puerto Rican with a great love for his city and its people. This is his first year emceeing for the Annual National Cuatro Festival.
Sponsors
