FREE FLAMENCO PERFORMANCE FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the UAlbany Performing Arts Center is pleased to present Flamenco Rhythms on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 7:30pm on the uptown University at Albany campus located at 1400 Washington Avenue. The program will feature virtuoso guitarist Maria Zemantauski, one of the world’s few heralded female flamenco-style guitarists and one of even fewer female flamenco composers, who will be joined by percussionist Brian Melick and dancer La Nina.  This performance is part of a series of four shining the spotlight on local artists. Others in the series include Capital Trio (Oct. 25), choreographer/filmmaker Hettie Barnhill (Feb. 8 & 9) and two local actors TBA who will be performing the experimental play White Rabbit, Red Rabbit (March 26 & 27). 

Guitarist and composer Maria Zemantauski is a nylon-string guitarist and composer whose style is influenced by a variety of musical genres, most notably, Spanish classical and flamenco. She has performed in Spain, Italy and across the continental United States to great acclaim. Embracing the classical and traditional flamenco repertoire for her foundation, she takes her audience on a musical journey inspired by her flair for experimentation and pure love of the instrument. 

Zemantauski’s relationship with the UAlbany Performing Arts Center goes back to 2012 when she was involved in the first residency by NYC-based Flamenco Vivo at the venue.  Last season, she was again a part of the program when Flamenco Vivo made a return four-day visit.

Based in upstate New York, Zemantauski maintains an active career as a teacher, lecturer and performer; delighting audiences as a soloist or as the founder and director of The Maria Z Ensemble.   Zemantauski is on the faculty in the Department of Fine Arts, Theater Arts & Digital Media at Hudson Valley Community College where she has also been the Coordinator of Cultural Affairs since 2004.

Musician, educator, author and designer Brian Melick (aka Uduboy) has been professionally involved in music since the early age of 13. He is a featured recording artist on over 400 commercially released recordings on independent as well as major labels in addition to his seven solo projects.  Melick is a highly active drummer performing locally as well as around the United States and Canada with Cathie Ryan, Kevin McKrell, Kasius, Heard, Maria Zemantauski, Joy Adler, Bearnstein Bard Quartet, Gus Mancini & Sonic Soul, Seth & The Moodymelix, Golfstrom, Warden & Co., Side Show Gypsy and Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company.

La Nina is a native of Colombia who studied flamenco in Spain at the Academia de Flamenco de Mariquilla and in New York City with master teachers Jose Molina, Jorge Navarro and Mariano Parra. As Rebeca Byam, she was also a Capital Region high school Spanish teacher for 33 years.

Admission to the performance is free. No reservations or tickets are required.  For further information, contact the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s main office at (518) 442-3995 or [email protected].

In addition to this public performance, Zemantauski and La Nina will offer a program entitled Tacones y Manos Calientes for area high school students on Thursday and Friday, September 29 & 30 at 10am.  These events are currently at capacity, but educators are invited to sign up for the waiting list by contacting the UAlbany Performing Arts Center at (518) 442-5738 or [email protected].