Flamenco guitarist Tony Rivera will bring his virtuosic, exultant and meditative blend of music to the St. John’s-Hillsdale (NJ) Arts Festival on Saturday, November 14 at 3pm, presenting flamenco favorites, as well as songs by Jeff Buckley, Michael Card, Carey Landry, Lloyd-Webber, Bach and others. Well-known sopranos Stephanie Carr and Lisa Gordon will join him in the 1,200-seat, high-ceilinged, 3/4-round-seating architectural gem of St. John’s Church-Hillsdale in northern Bergen County, which is sought-after by prominent Arts organizations for its acoustics and architecture.
Mr. Rivera has performed with internationally famous musicians such as Tom Chapin, Stanley Jordan, Buddy Miles, the Vassar Clements Band, Willy Calhoun (of Living Colour), the legendary fiddler Billy Bang, and Michael Powers. Mr. Rivera has appeared as guitar soloist for 15,000 people at the Pentagon for the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Newark’s Sacred Heart Cathedral at age 13 for Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, as well as in New York City at the Knitting Factory, the Cutting Room, and Tobacco Road, among many other venues.
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Despite being accepted by Juilliard School, Mr. Rivera decided to study at the New York City-based American Institute of Guitar under flamenco guitar teacher, Dennis Koster, the author of The Keys to Flamenco Guitar. Mr. Rivera recorded his first CD, Gypsy, and in 1998 he formed his first band. Performing cover songs as well as originals, he infused contemporary music and Rhythm & Blues with Flamenco guitar, also mixing together Disco, Blues, Southern Rock, Latin and Gospel music. Currently Rivera leads the Tony Rivera Band and has served as liturgical guitarist at St. John’s - Hillsdale since 2013. He has a guitar teacher to dozens of guitar students in his studio in Garfield, as well as teaching privately throughout Bergen and Rockland Counties.
Videos: http://www.mrtonylessons.com/videos-and-slideshows-.html and https://youtu.be/_W60Rmr817k
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Other St. John’s Hillsdale Arts Festival events taking place include on Fri., 11/13: Art of Motion Dance Theatre (7pm), Broadway soprano Cathy Motley-Fitch (8:15pm), and a Wine & Cheese Opening Party (9:30pm); on Sat., 11/14: piano prodigy Brielle Dulce Perez (1pm), Kids Dance & Crafts (1pm), David Glukh Klezmer Ensemble (6:30pm), and Opera & Broadway Gala (8pm); on Sun., 11/15: folk legend Sloan Wainwright (2pm), “ArtsTalk” with film producer Ed Cuffe (at 2pm), and noted organist-pianist Kristin Dabaghian (4:30pm), and Closing Party with 50/50 Raffle Drawing (6pm). Tickets are $10 (Wainwright event is $20; children 15 and under free), “all-event passes” are $60/person or $85/couple, box office (M-F 9am-4pm) at 1 Valley St. Hillsdale, at www.stjohnartsfestival.com or at 201-666-2707.
For further information, photos, or to set up an interview with Tony Rivera, contact Cathy Wollyung, Executive Producer, St. John’s-Hillsdale Arts Festival, at cathywollyung@gmail.com or call 201-666-2707.
