Yovianna García said generations of Puerto Ricans born in the U.S. "are not familiar with the kinds of music and the music's history that we have brought with us."
Yovianna García grew up in Puerto Rico, fascinated by the sound of the guitar and its role in the music of that country. Her training took her solidly into the world of concert classical guitar repertoire, but her latest projects take her both back to her roots and into some new territories.
"I've observed that a lot of people are not aware of our history, of where we come from," García said on WNPR's Where We Live. "It makes you more aware of where you are and what you are supposed to do, what your role is in society." She said the generations of Puerto Ricans born in the United States "are not familiar with the kinds of music and the music's history that we have brought with us."
García was born into a family of musicians and studied at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico. She went on to get her masters in Music at The Hartt School. The Puerto Rican guitarist now regularly plays in "the Capital of Puerto Rico in the United States," as it was called by former Puerto Rican Governor Sila Calderón.
But García doesn't limit herself to classical music from her home country. She's one-half of the contemporary music duo Kaleidos with percussionist Sayun Chang.
"I love to preserve what I think is important to preserve and educate with it," García said. "But I'm also extremely open to learn from others and innovate as well. I think that's the key in this global society."
Listen to an interview with Yovianna García below, and listen to her play some music on Where We Live.
Cool guitar, right?
It is a classical guitar based on the dimensions, construction and strings. "But the sound hole is not in the middle of the guitar," explained García.
By moving up the sound hole and making two smaller semi-circle sound holes towards the neck of the guitar, it increases the resonance space and gives it a very different sound.
García's latest solo album is called "Portrait," and Kaleidos will soon release a live concert DVD from Taiwan.