Dr. Enric Madriguera (right) leads the performers at the historic Ateneo theater in Madrid. Jacob VanNattan (second from left) plays beside fellow McDermott Scholar Lindsey Ward (center).
Over the summer, Dr. Enric Madriguera, the Russell Cleveland Professor of Guitar Studies at UT Dallas, traveled abroad with University students to explore the sounds of Spain.
Alongside a small ensemble of guitarists, Madriguera directed Lindsey Ward, a junior studying international political economy, and sophomore Jacob VanNattan, who are both McDermott Scholars, in a number of performances in Madrid.
“We performed in five locations around the city, including the historic Ateneo theater, which is where Andrés Segovia, a virtuoso Spanish guitarist, presented his 1913 Madrid debut,” Madriguera said. “In fact, the guitar portion of the festival was dedicated to maestro Andrés Segovia to mark this centenary of his Madrid debut.”
Ward said that despite having spent only one semester studying classical guitar at UT Dallas, playing at the historic venues of Madrid gave her a confidence boost.
“Immediately upon entering the Ateneo theater, I was hit with the elegance and beauty of the building,” said Ward. “There was definitely something special about playing on the same stage as someone so respected in the classical guitar community as Segovia. Though my time as a guitarist has been short, it has given me the experience of a lifetime, and I hope to continue fostering my skills and do justice to such a beautiful instrument.”
“Though my time as a guitarist has been short, it has given me the experience of a lifetime, and I hope to continue fostering my skills and do justice to such a beautiful instrument.”
Lindsey Ward,
McDermott Scholar studying international political economy
The students also played at the Museo del Romanticismo, several cultural centers in Madrid, and their final performance took place in the San Pedro Apóstol Church in Barajas-Madrid.
“The experience was incredible not only because my guitar playing improved dramatically, but also because I was able to meet a lot of amazing people and become immersed in the Spanish culture,” said VanNattan.
The ChamberArt festival in Madrid was sponsored by the Chamber Music Association of Madrid.
Students and faculty from the Classen School of Advanced Studies, Oklahoma City University and Texas A&M International University also attended the festival.
“In addition to students from UT Dallas, a guitar aficionado from Dallas and a young conservatory student from Spain also joined our group to form a quintet. None of the players knew one another prior to the festival,” said Madriguera. “I am pleased to say that everyone performed beautifully.”