Venezuelan percussionist to perform at SFA

Alirio José Torrealba

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Venezuelan percussionist Alirio José Torrealba will perform at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Cole Concert Hall on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.

His recital will feature performances of "Entrevero" for Maracas and Tape by Guasaka4; "Pajarillo Flamenco" by Juan Carlos Contreras; and "Temazcal" (maracas and tape) by Javier Alvarez. He will also conduct a maracas master class for SFA's percussion studio.

Torrealba studied at the Simon Bolivar Conservatory of Venezuela and the Latin American Academy of Percussion. His passion for Venezuelan folk music led him to author "The Art of the Maracas" and establish the iPlayMaracas Academy. "The Art of the Maracas" is an introductory book designed to inform percussionists how to play "cross-stick maracas." He has presented master classes in Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Bogota and other parts of the world.

Admission to the concert is free. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.