Monica and Richard Segal opened up their magnificent Gem Island home to top supporters of the Indian River Symphonic Association for a lively recital by world-renowned trumpeter, composer and recording artist Pacho Flores, joined by cuatro player Hector Molina and Jacob Craig on piano.
Flores and Molina were in town to perform the next day when IRSA hosted the Minería Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto, in its inaugural visit to Vero Beach.
The Venezuelan-born Flores studied as a child with his father, a trumpeter and band director, and went on to study at the renowned Venezuelan El Sistema and other institutions, winning countless prizes and acclaim along the way. As adept at jazz and Latin American styles as he is classical music, Flores is a founding member of the Simón Bolivar Brass Quintet and the Latin American Trumpet Academy in Venezuela, and has performed with leading orchestras worldwide.
Molina, a celebrated Venezuelan composer, cuatro and guitar player, has recorded six albums and a DVD with the C4 Trío, winning two Latin Grammys and three other nominations for their albums. A four-stringed instrument with a distinctive pickguard, the cuatro is a folk music staple in Venezuela and other South American and Caribbean countries.
Craig, who holds a doctorate of sacred music and performance, is an IRSA board member and the director of music and arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, is an accomplished organist and a competitive bagpipe player.
“Welcome to this splendid venue. We’re just delighted that so many of you were able to join us this evening,” said Lois Conrad, IRSA board member.
“First, I of course, would like to thank Monica and Rick for opening this gorgeous home to us,” said Conrad, before commenting on the museum-quality artworks the couple have amassed over the past 45 years.
“We have a wonderful experience planned for this evening, with these incredibly talented international and national artists. I’ve heard that they had a lot of fun yesterday at rehearsal and today, so we’re going to see some great personalities as well as great talent,” said Conrad.
“Again I’d like to thank you all for being supporters. It’s because of you that we are able to present these wonderful opportunities and we are able to keep the Indian River Symphonic Association going.”
Flores completely charmed everyone with his tremendous talent and his engaging personality, such as observing that he had viewed more artwork at the Seagal home than at the Museum of Modern Art.
The wonderful program began with four pieces that featured trumpet and piano. Flores, joined by Craig, first performed “Bulerias del Guadalquivir,” a work evocative of flamingo dancers and Andalusian folklore, composed by his friend Santiago Baez, a celebrated contemporary pianist.
The dramatic Heterónimos, one of two pieces they played composed by Flores, contained an extensive piano part, after which Flores commented that he wanted to take Craig back with him.
During three pieces that blended the cuatro with the trumpet, Molina’s rapid-fire strumming caused his hand to actually become a blur. The entire evening was a testament to the incredible talents of all three musicians.
“I had all these things in my mind I was going to say and it’s gone. Instead, my heart’s racing and I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep; I got so entranced. I think that’s kind of exactly what the Indian River Symphonic Association is trying to do,” said board member Louise Kennedy.
“We’re trying to give you a direct connection to some of the most amazing orchestras in the world. Certainly we are deeply appreciative that through your support we can bring people like this to the rest of our community and we can deepen the work with students that we do.”
Upcoming concerts include the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on March 5, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields on March 16 and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on March 24.
For more information, visit IRSymphonic.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
