Tony Hauser to present concert of flamenco music and dance Feb. 27
Minnesota Music Award-winning guitarist Tony Hauser, the latest addition to the University of St. Thomas guitar faculty and a founder of the Minnesota Guitar Society, will present a free concert of Spanish flamenco music and dance at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, in the auditorium of Brady Educational Center on St. Thomas' St. Paul campus.
Hauser, who began studying flamenco guitar at 10 with his brother, continued his studies with flamenco guitarists in Spain as well as Minnesota. Under the tutelage of Andres Segovia's protégé Jesus Silva, Hauser received his bachelor of musical arts degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts. His concert career now spans more than 30 years and he has taught private lessons and given master classes and workshops since 1970.
Hauser has toured with legendary jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd and leads a band, The Brasilnutz, which specializes in authentic performances of a variety of Brazilian musical styles not often heard in the United States. His music has been broadcast by National Public Radio and on Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion."
Hauser's lineage is well known in the Minnesota arts community. His late parents were modern dance choreographer Nancy McKnight Hauser and sculptor Alonzo Hauser. Tony and his brother Michael both established themselves as prominent classical and flamenco guitarists; their sister, Heidi Hauser Jasmin, a dancer and choreographer, is now artistic director of Minneapolis-based Hauser Dance, the company her mother founded as the Nancy Hauser Dance Company in 1961.
Joining Hauser for his St. Thomas faculty recital will be dancers from Minneapolis-based Zorongo Flamenco Dance School – Sachiko Nishiushi, Laura Horn and Julia Hauser – and musicians Chuck Armstrong (flute and saxophone), Tom Dades (electric bass) and Daniel Volovets (guitar).
On the program are solo and ensemble works by some of the world's greatest flamenco musicians, including Paco de Lucia, Rafael Riqueni, José Luis Valle Fajardo (" Chuscales") and Pedro Cortes. Hauser also will premiere some of his own flamenco compositions.
As a side note: Internationally renowned flamenco guitarist Pedro Cortes will present a lecture-demonstration to St. Thomas guitar students on the afternoon of Feb. 27. For details, contact Dr. Christopher Kachian, (651) 962-5858 or cskachian@stthomas.edu.
