Berta Rojas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berta Rojas |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Berta Rojas |
| Born | 23 September 1966 Asunción, Paraguay |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, professor |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | On Music Recordings |
| Associated acts | Agustín Barrios, Paquito D'Rivera |
Berta Rojas (born September 23, 1966) is a famous classical guitarist from Paraguay. She won a Latin Grammy Award in 2022 for her album "Legado" (Legacy). This album was named "Best Classical Album." A song from the same album, "Anido's Portrait" by Sergio Assad, also won for "Best Contemporary Classical Composition."
Berta Rojas has been nominated for Latin Grammys three other times. In 2012, her album "Día y Medio" (A Day and a Half), recorded with Paquito D'Rivera, was nominated for "Best Instrumental Album." In 2014, her album "Salsa Roja" was nominated for "Best Classical Album." Her third nomination was in 2015 for "Best Tango Album" for "History of Tango," which she recorded with the well-known Camerata Bariloche.
Contents
About Berta Rojas: Her Journey and Education
Berta Rojas is known around the world for her amazing guitar playing. In 1991, a newspaper called El País said she brought "a new feeling to the instrument." Later, the Washington Post called her a "guitarist extraordinaire." Classical Guitar Magazine even called her an "ambassador of the classical guitar."
Early Music Lessons and Studies
Berta started her first music lessons with guitarist Emiliano Aiub Riveros. She then briefly studied guitar with Carlos Vázquez. When she was 10, she began her formal classical guitar training. Her teachers were Felipe Sosa and Violeta de Mestral. At the same time, she also learned piano with Rosa Mereles de López.
In 1986, Berta moved to Uruguay to continue her studies. She learned from Uruguayan professor Abel Carlevaro. She also attended the University School of Music. There, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar. Her teachers at the university included Eduardo Fernández and Mario Paysée.
Studying in the United States
In 1996, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts recognized Berta. They named her a "Fellow of the Americas" for her great artistic talent. This award helped her to continue her education in the United States. That same year, she started her advanced studies at the Peabody Institute.
In 1997, she received a scholarship from the Organization of American States. This scholarship helped pay for the rest of her studies. She earned a Master of Music degree from Peabody Institute. Her teachers there were Manuel Barrueco and Ray Chester. In 2000, Berta received her Graduate Performance Diploma from the same school. She continued to study with Manuel Barrueco and Julian Gray.
Berta Rojas: Her Musical Career and Achievements
Berta Rojas has performed in many famous places around the world. She has played at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. She also performed with the Irish Radio and Television Orchestra. She appeared on Belgian National Television with the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra.
Tours and Collaborations
Since 2011, Berta has toured through 20 countries in the Americas. She toured with Cuban saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera. He has won 11 Grammy Awards. Their tour was called "In the Footsteps of Mangoré." Together, Berta and Paquito recorded the album Día y Medio (A Day and a Half). This album was nominated for "Best Instrumental Album" at the Latin Grammys in 2012. Berta has also often toured with Brazilian guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima.
Successful Albums
Berta Rojas has released many studio albums. Her first was Intimate Barrios in 1998. Gramophone magazine listed it as one of "the best recordings you can buy." Her 2006 album Cielo Abierto (Open Sky) was highly praised. Soundboard magazine called it "perfect in every way." They noted its "heart-touching musical artistry."
Her 2009 album Terruño (Homeland) also received excellent reviews. Steve Marsh from Classical Guitar Magazine said Terruño showed a "poetic beauty that many other players rarely achieve."
Awards and Recognition
Berta Rojas has received many important awards. In May 2015, she was honored with "Maestros del Arte." The Paraguayan Senate also named her "Illustrious Ambassador of Musical Art." The Chamber of Deputies Paraguay gave her the "National Order of Merit Comuneros" award. On May 18, 2015, she released her album "History of Tango." She recorded it with the famous Camerata Bariloche.
In 2016, two universities gave her Honorary Doctorate Degrees. These were the Autonomous University of Encarnación and the Universidad Americana of Asunción. In 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave her the National Order of Merit "Don José Falcón." This was for her great work in promoting culture.
On May 8, 2017, she released her album "Felicidade" (Happiness). This album honored Brazilian music. Famous artists like Gilberto Gil, Toquinho, and Iván Lins worked with her on it.
On July 4, 2017, she received the Carlos Colombino award. The National Secretariat of Culture of Paraguay gave her this award. It recognized her important contributions to Paraguayan culture.
In August 2017, Berta made history. She became the first Latin American guitar teacher in the Guitar Department at the Berklee College of Music.
In June 2018, she performed with the famous Australian guitarist John Williams. They played a tribute to Agustín Barrios Mangoré. This special event took place at Shakespeare's Globe in London. In 2019, the National University of Asunción also gave her an honorary doctorate.
On May 24, 2022, she released her newest album, "Legado" (Legacy). This album is a tribute to the women who were pioneers in classical guitar. In the same year, she won "La Guitarra de Oro Award." This award from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan recognized her lifelong dedication to the guitar. More recently, in 2023, she received the National Order of Merit in the "Grand Cross" grade. This is the highest honor given by Paraguay.
Berta Rojas: Helping Music Grow
Berta Rojas is not just a performer; she also works hard to help music grow. She has been an artistic director for many music competitions and festivals. These include the Agustin Barrios International Guitar Competition and the City of Asuncion's Music Competition. She also directed the Marlow Guitar International Youth Guitar Competition in the USA.
She founded and directed the Barrios World Wide Web Competition. Berta has also led educational tours called "Con Berta Rojas hoy toca Mangoré." These tours visited schools in Paraguay. She also led the "In the Footsteps of Mangore" tour across many countries in the Americas. Berta has also been involved with the Guitar Orchestra "Pu Rory" Ensemble and the "Jeporeka" musical composition project. Her work helps new musicians and audiences discover the beauty of classical guitar.
Discography
- Berta Rojas interprets Agustin Barrios – Clave Ediciones. Paraguay, 1992
- Concierto Latinoamericano – Paraguay, 1995
- Concierto Latinoamericano – Dorian Recordings, USA, 1997
- Intimate Barrios – Dorian Recordings. USA, 1998
- Guitarra Adentro – Paraguay, 2002
- Cielo Abierto – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2006
- Alma y Corazón – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2007
- Flores de Asunción – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2008
- Paraguay According to Agustin Barrios – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2008
- Terruño – ON Music Recordings – USA, 2009
- Día y Medio – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2012
- Salsa Roja – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2013
- Historia del Tango (History of Tango) – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2015
- Felicidade (Happiness) – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2017
- Legado – ON Music Recordings. USA, 2022
See also
In Spanish: Berta Rojas para niños
