Encuentro the art of coming together
SEASON 31 2025 – 2026
Painting by James Waters, Free Oranges Forever (a long prayer)
Encuentro the art of coming together
Music of the Americas @ Park & Market
UC SAN DIEGO'S NEWEST VENUE IN DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO, 1100 Market Street, San Diego
Join us for Music of the Americas - celebrating our binational region - in a visionary new performance space.
Saturday, November 8, 2025 @ 7:30pm inspired by water, color, and the world beyond flute, violin, cello, double bass, piano, harp
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 @ 7:30pm the soul of tango revealed, face to face flute, violin, double bass, piano, bandoneon, narrator
MINGLE @ Mingei
MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM IN BALBOA PARK, 1439 El Prado, San Diego
Camarada is thrilled to return to Mingei as Artists-in-Residence. Enjoy Thursday evenings in Balboa Park with us as we celebrate the beauty of art and music in Mingei’s newly opened exhibits and theater.
Thursday, December 11, 2025 @ 7:30pm illuminating the stillness of the season flute, violin, cello, piano
Thursday, March 26, 2026 @ 7:30pm music at the crossroads of culture and imagination flute, violins, viola, cello, piano
2025–26 SEASON
CAMARADA @ The Conrad
THE CONRAD PREBYS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla
Camarada is honored to be in the inaugural cohort of Resident Companies at The Conrad. Experience the magnificent beauty and acoustics of San Diego’s premier concert hall.
Friday & Saturday,
December 19 & 20, 2025 @ 7:30 pm
jazz to dazzle and light up your holidays
guitar, voice, flute, saxophone, double bass, piano, drums, narrator
Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Baroque beauty, classical elegance, and modern inspiration
flute, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, piano, percussion, narrator
Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 7:30 pm
the past and future of tango in one unforgettable night
flute, violin, double bass, piano, bandoneon, dance, narrator
Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 4:00 pm
cool bossa, lush harmony, and timeless love songs
guitar, voice, flute, saxophone, bass, piano, percussion
T HE C AMARADA T ANGO Q UARTET
BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH THE ART OF MUSIC
TANGO TOUR III 2025
Across Argentina and Uruguay, audiences felt moved and proud to see an ensemble from the United States—led by the Argentine-born composer and bassist Andrés Martín, now based in Southern California—honoring the cultural heritage of the Rio de la Plata with authenticity, passion, and mastery.
Córdoba: At Teatro Libertador San Martín, the city’s grand theater, the audience rose to their feet. Some wept. The beauty of the music and the depth of the connection were overwhelming.
Mendoza: In Argentina’s wine capital, Camarada was welcomed by the world-renowned Catena Zapata Winery. The winery has already chosen Andrés Martín’s music, Brutal, for their wine-pairing experiences.
Montevideo: The tour continued across the Río de la Plata to Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo.
Buenos Aires: A highlight of the tour was at the National Academy of Tango, where the director invited Camarada to sign the Tango Bible—an extraordinary honor reserved for those who contribute to the living history of this art form. A final concert at CAFF brought together The Camarada Tango Quartet with Argentina’s premiere tango orchestra “El Arranque.”
Through these concerts, we saw that music is more than performance; it is communication, collaboration, and celebration.
Gary Payne Photography
WELCOME
Dear Friends,
Welcome to Camarada’s 31st season!
We are thrilled to share an incredible year of music, art, and discovery with you. Camarada has always promised to bring you, our audiences, right up close to the magic of music-making. Our 31st season certainly delivers on that promise — throughout the season, we will be premiering and unveiling five new commissions, inviting numerous composers to speak on their work, forging ties across international borders with the return of The International Art of Tango Festival, and more.
But perhaps more important than our music itself is the way that music brings us together. This season’s theme, Encuentro — The Art of Coming Together, beautifully captures this phenomenon. The Spanish word encuentro translates to “encounter” or “gathering,” carrying a sense of meaningful, serendipitous connection. Each Camarada concert is an encuentro of its own — a joyful gathering of artists, audiences, and cultures, encountering each other with curiosity and wonder. Whether we’re swept up in the passionate rhythms of tango, immersed in the rich textures of a string quartet, or exploring bold new voices of living composers, Camarada captures moments of shared humanity through our music, sparking connections between art and audience that linger long after the final note.
As we celebrate our 31st season, we are profoundly grateful for the friends, collaborators, and supporters who have gathered together with us for so many years, defining our journey and acknowledging the transformative power of music. Thank you for being a part of the Camarada family — together, we are not just creating concerts, but a vibrant community where art can live and breathe. We cannot wait to see what each new encuentro brings in this season and beyond.
Bringing you classical, jazz, and tango, Camarada’s 31st season celebrates the art of coming together — where music unites hearts, bridges cultures, and creates moments of shared inspiration. With joy and gratitude,
Beth Ross Buckley
Artistic Director, Camarada
HIGHLIGHTS
• Five New Commissions –thrilling new works by Andrés Martín, Jordan Kuspa, Oliviana Marie, Pablo Jaurena, and Hugo Crosthwaite.
• Submerged @ UC Park & Market – a breathtaking concert inspired by water, color, and the world beyond, featuring commentary from four living artists: Andrés Martín, Aaron Alter, Miguel del Águila, and Hugo Crosthwaite.
• The Return of Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz – back by popular demand for two festive nights –a beloved San Diego holiday tradition
• The International Art of Tango Festival – continues its cross-border magic, uniting audiences in San Diego & Tijuana.
• Guest Artists: Pablo Jaurena –bandoneon virtuoso from Córdoba, Argentina & Ignacio Varchausky, tango historian
• Brilliant Narrations by Robert John Hughes – adding wit and storytelling flair to performances at The Conrad.
• Dynamic Collaborations with Mingei International Museum, UC San Diego Park & Market, and La Jolla Music Society’s Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center.
• Behind-the-Scenes Insights – enjoy pre-concert talks with commissioned composers and visual artists.
• Over 30 Performances – from intimate local concerts to vibrant stages in Argentina, Mexico, and Uruguay.
• Conversations with the Masters – exclusive, intimate fundraising events featuring inspiring artists and stories.
CAMARADA’S 2ND ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL ART OF TANGO FESTIVAL
February 24 - 28, 2026
The Camarada Tango Quartet, along with renowned bandoneon player Pablo Jaurena, tango historian and bassist Ignacio Varchauvsky, and tango dancers Carolina Jaurena and Anton Domansky, present the second annual International Art of Tango Festival. Performing in San Diego and Tijuana, Camarada brings a fresh and compelling take on Argentina’s most iconic art form, featuring the work of legendary tango masters and premiering a new tango commission by Composer-in-Residence, Andrés Martín.
Tango Intimo II - San Diego | February 24, 7:30 pm
UC San Diego Park & Market
The Art of Tango II - Tijuana | February 26, 7 pm
Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT)
The Art of Tango II - La Jolla | February 28, 7:30 pm
The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Who defines San Diego’s culture?
San Diego is a region full of people, art and movements redefining our cultural identity and reshaping our communities and expressions.
Listen to The Finest, a new podcast from KPBS that deepens our understanding of why we are America’s Finest.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts. kpbs.org/thefinest
KPBS is a public service of San Diego State University.
DONATE HERE
At Camarada, we value the power music has to provide solace, move us to action, and bring us closer as a community. Encuentro celebrates the music that connects us to each other and to the wider world around us, binding us together and bringing us much-needed joy.
But community is not created by one organization alone. Our supporters make these joyous celebrations possible and have allowed us to provide artistically rich and deeply personal musical experiences for audiences in San Diego and beyond for 30 years.
Please join us in our mission to continue building our musical community. Ticket and program sales cover less than half of our operating expenses— we rely on the generosity of supporters to continue our mission.
All donations are tax deductible. We hope to make your contribution as easy as possible:
• Checks payable to Camarada may be sent to 325 West Washington Street, #2-163, San Diego, CA 92103
• Visit camarada.org and click on the Donate Now button on our home page
• Scan this QR code to make your donation today
• Or, call (619) 231-3702 for more information or to give your payment information over the phone
Thank you for your support - your tax-deductible donation unleashes our creativity!
The mission of CAMARADA is to elevate and enrich the San Diego community and beyond by presenting phenomenal chamber music concerts, while engaging diverse audiences through visionary and educational programming featuring living composers, commissioning new music, and igniting a powerful connection between the audience, artists, and music.
Camarada is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization under the IRS tax code EIN# 33-0871107
Donate Here
Camarada Named Resident Arts Company at the Conrad re ys er ormin Arts Center
Camarada is honored to be selected as one of La Jolla Music Society’s first resident arts companies at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. Camarada, alongside Art of Elan, Bach Collegium, and Mainly Mozart, will be part of the inaugural three-year residency cohort, partnering with The Conrad to present four concerts during our 2025-2026 season.
Thank you to the La Jolla Music Society for your support and partnership!
Camarada @ The Conrad 2025-2026
December 19-20, 2025
Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda, The San Diego Union Tribune
Artist Directors
Beth Ross Buckley, flute, is the visionary Founder and Artistic Director of Camarada. For the past 31 years, she has been the creative force behind this dynamic ensemble. She has curated chamber music throughout San Diego with innovative events that combine engaging music, vibrant venues, and inspiring art—truly a treat for all the senses. With a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from St. Olaf College and a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota, Beth’s career has included performances with the San Francisco Chamber Players, numerous Bay Area orchestras and chamber ensembles, and at National Flute Association conventions. She served as principal flute of the former San Diego Chamber Orchestra/Orchestra Nova for 25 years and has performed in numerous musical theater productions across Southern California. As Artistic Director of Camarada, she has successfully led three exciting South American tours and many tours across the United States with The Camarada Tango Quartet, expanding the ensemble’s reach and impact. The quartet’s albums Tango Bajo el Agua and Brutal, recorded at Estudios Ion in Buenos Aires, are reaching audiences worldwide.
When she’s not creating magical musical moments, Beth is behind the camera, capturing beautiful portraits through her photography business, Beth Ross Buckley Photography. With a flair for creativity and a deep dedication to the arts, Beth continues to guide Camarada to new heights—welcoming fresh compositions, talented musicians, and enthusiastic audiences to its ever-expanding story.
Dana Burnett, piano, is currently the Associate Artistic Director of Camarada and has directed and performed with Camarada for over a decade. She has been on the faculties of the University of North Carolina, University of Wisconsin, and Vanderbilt University. Ms. Burnett was awarded the Alban Berg Fellowship at the Schubert Institute-Austria and received an Artist Diploma and accompanying prize from that institution. She has a Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University, a Master of Science in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Vanderbilt University, and has completed postgraduate work at Indiana University with Michel Block and John Ogdon. A soloist and chamber musician, Ms. Burnett has performed at Carnegie Hall, New York City; the Frick Collection, Pittsburgh; Dame Myra Hess Series, Chicago; Academy of Music, Philadelphia; and the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. Dana has been fortunate to have collaborated with Leonard Rose, Hilary Hahn, Nathaniel Rosen, Martin Chalifour, Benita Valente, Paula Robison, and many more musicians in her chamber music career. She has premiered chamber works including those by Jean-Michel Damase, Richard Wernick, Judith Zaimont, Gunther Schuller, and the last chamber work of Stephen Albert. She was also a yearly concerto soloist during her eighteen-year tenure as a member of the piano faculty at the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina. Other festivals include Hidden Valley Seminars Flute Camp, Virginia Arts Festival, and the Skaneateles Music Festival. She has recorded for the Naxos and Arabesque labels and has been featured on WHYY, Philadelphia’s Fresh Air, and NPR. Dana performs with California Chamber Orchestra and Classics 4 Kids and was the symphony pianist with the North Carolina and Virginia Symphonies. Ms. Burnett is on the music faculty at Cal State San Marcos and an active member of North San Diego MTAC, with a private piano studio in Carlsbad.
Guest Artists
Fred Benedetti, guitar, is an emeritus professor of music at Grossmont College where he was chair of guitar studies for 38 years. He is currently a member of the guitar faculty at San Diego State University. Mr. Benedetti has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, Czechia, Japan, and Taiwan. In 1986 Mr. Benedetti was one of twelve performers chosen worldwide to perform in the prestigious Andrés Segovia Master Class. As a BMI-affiliated composer, he has written numerous contemporary pieces for the international CD library company Network Productions.
After working as a studio musician and composer for 40 years, Mr. Benedetti’s music and performing is featured on over 150 digital and vinyl recordings and numerous radio, television, and feature films. He has shared the stage with Dave Brubeck and Luciano Pavarotti and has performed for dignitaries such as the King and Queen of Malaysia, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ravi Shankar. In 2023, Fred was inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame.
Ruslan Biryukov, cello, was born in Baku, Azerbaijan and received his formal music education at the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory in Russia (Master of Music, M.A.), and the USC Thornton School of Music in the United States (Artist Diploma and Graduate Certificate). Biryukov has won numerous awards worldwide, including the Grand Prize at the 17th Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition. He is currently the Temecula Valley Symphony Principal Cellist and Artist-in-Residence, founder of the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra and Los Angeles Cello Quartet, and Artistic Director of the Positive Motions Concert Series in San Diego. Recent solo appearances include the Redlands Bowl Symphony,
Marina Del Rey Symphony, Glendale Philharmonic, and San Bernardino Symphony. His chamber music accolades include performances with world-renowned violinist Midori at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles, cellist Kirill Rodin at the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory, and members of the Ysaÿe Quartet. Additionally, Mr. Biryukov is the only musician in the world to be granted a US Commercial Pilot license and Certified Flight Instructor single & multi-engine instrument license (SEL, MEL, CFII, MEI). Ruslan has many award-winning students throughout the nation and continues teaching in Los Angeles and Temecula.
David Buckley, violin, has been an integral part of Camarada for all 31 seasons and performs in The Camarada Tango Quartet, with whom he has toured in North and South America. He serves as co-concertmaster of the La Jolla Symphony, where he has been a featured soloist on multiple occasions, most recently performing Florence Price’s Violin Concerto No. 2. Balancing his passion for music with an impressive medical career, Dr. Buckley received his MD from the University of Minnesota after attending St. Olaf College. He is past president of Radiology Medical Group and has served as Chief of Radiology at Scripps Mercy Hospital. Honored as a Top Doctor by the San Diego County Medical Society, he is also a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and Phi Beta Kappa. When not performing or practicing medicine, David enjoys travel, golf and relaxing by the lake in his home state of Minnesota.
Born in Tijuana in 1971, Hugo Crosthwaite, artist, grew up in the coastal town of Rosarito, Baja California, ten miles south of the international border. A graduate of San Diego State University in 1997 with a BA in Applied Arts and Sciences, Crosthwaite is a draftsman who focuses on the figure, often using pencil or charcoal.
Composers Circle 2025-2026
Camarada is excited to announce the commissions of four inspiring artists for the 2025-2026 season. These commissions are generously funded by the Camarada Composers Circle, supporters passionate about the creation of new works and fostering the talents of living composers and artists.
Andrés Martín
World premiere at The Art of Tango II on February 28, 2026, as part of the International Art of Tango Festival.
New piece, inspired by Andrés Martín’s “Tango Bajo el Agua,” will be unveiled at Submerged on November 8, 2025
Oliviana Marie
“Ether” will premiere at A Winter’s Light on December 11, 2025 as part of the Mingle @ Mingei series.
Hugo Crosthwaite Composer Composer Composer Visual Artist
Composers Circle members are invited to attend dress receptions, and a specially curated trip to La Caja for a day of art, music, and dinner.
Jordan Kuspa
World premiere at Creativity & Madness on January 24, 2026, as part of the Camarada @ The Conrad series.
He works in a linear fashion, allowing drawings to develop with great detail. All the work is created with improvisation; narratives develop as works are created. Crosthwaite combines portraiture, comic book references, urban signage, commercial facades, and mythology in dense, layered compositions. Working primarily in black and white, Crosthwaite brings characters from allegory and popular media to the stage of the human condition, interacting with the architecture of Tijuana and dreams of the border. The work reflects the character of frenetic urban settings, a border in flux. Fear, hope, pain, and celebration are represented together as Crosthwaite elevates the ordinary person to heroic levels, showing the trials they endure while surviving in contemporary society.
Anton Domansky, tango dance, is a champion professional ballroom and Latin dancer with over 25 years of competitive and show dance experience. After winning the Ukrainian National Youth Championship at 16, he went on to study with the world’s top teachers in London and Italy. Since immigrating to the US in 2001, he has won multiple US National Youth Ballroom and 10 dance championship titles, and has represented the US in three World Championships. On his first trip to Buenos Aires, Anton fell in love with Argentine tango; 10 years later, he became US National Argentine Stage Tango Champion.
Adrian Evarkiou-Kaku, violin, began honing his craft as a violinist at just eight years old, earning him membership in the San Diego Youth Symphony. He attended Interlochen School for the Arts in Traverse City, Michigan before studying with Cornelia Heard at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in violin performance. Adrian also attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he earned
a Master’s degree in Violin Performance under the tutelage of Dr. Olga Kaler. Since then, Adrian has developed an impressive career as a performance violinist, playing for esteemed institutions including The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse, as well as for popular groups like the Eagles. He has also poured his talent into supporting his community, volunteering to hone young musicians’ education through a variety of nonprofit organizations and schools including Villa Musica, W.O. Smith School, and the Nashville Symphony.
Wesley Fowler, percussion, is a percussionist driven by artistic husbandry. Through education, performance, administrative tinkering, and audio/ video production, he seeks to give generously to the community through music. He specializes in contemporary percussion and is currently a doctoral student at the University of California San Diego studying with Steve Schick. He is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and is now settled in San Diego. Wesley previously served as the Director of Music at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, MA, overseeing their instrumental and vocal music program, and as the manager of Performance Technology at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, providing audio/visual services for over 680 performances and events yearly. Wesley teaches percussion, piano, music theory, filmmaking, and technical theater production, and is currently a percussion instructor at Belle Melodie Music Art School. He was a featured soloist with the Plymouth Philharmonic and has performed alongside ensembles such as the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Nief-Norf, Charles River Wind Ensemble, Boston New Music Initiative, Ensemble Knox, and more. When he’s not making music, he’s probably covered in flour in his kitchen, working on a new recipe to share.
Over the past decade, jazz pianist and Origin Records recording artist Danny Green, piano, has earned recognition as a bandleader and composer with a gift for spinning lyrical, absorbing narratives. Green’s growing portfolio of vibrant sounds – an enchanting mix of jazz, classical, and Brazilian rhythms – has captured the attention of critics around the world, including DownBeat Magazine, Jazziz, San Diego Union Tribune, The Boston Globe, and Public Radio International. Green revealed his unique talents on his 2009 debut recording With You in Mind, which rose to #18 on the Jazz Week Charts and won Best Jazz Album at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards. In 2012, Green released A Thousand Ways Home. Green has toured throughout the United States and Canada, playing at major venues and festivals. Outside of his own projects, Green plays regularly with guitarist Peter Sprague and has performed with many other noteworthy musicians, including Paquito D’Rivera, Chico Pinheiro, Charles McPherson, and Pacho Flores.
Justin Grinell, double bass, is a San Diegobased freelance jazz bassist and music educator. More importantly, he is a husband to pianist/ educator Melonie Grinnell and father to their two sons. Justin frequently performs with his own groups and as a sideman. He is often performing with San Diego’s most respected jazz artists, including Holly Hofmann, Christopher Hollyday, Duncan Moore, Jim Plank, Richard Sellers, Peter Sprague, Tripp Sprague, Joshua White, Mike Wofford, and Mikan Zlatkovich. Justin is a long-standing member of the Danny Green Trio (with pianist Danny Green and drummer Julien Cantelm), a melodic and nimble piano trio featuring Green’s original compositions and his creative combination of modern jazz, Brazilian jazz, and classical influences. Since its inception in 2008, the trio has released five albums. Justin can
be heard performing his own compositions and arrangements on his 2013 debut album, Without You. The album features Justin on acoustic and electric bass alongside tenor saxophonist Robby Marshall, pianist Josh Nelson, and drummer Dan Schnelle. In addition to performing, Justin maintains an active teaching schedule as adjunct faculty at University of San Diego and Grossmont College. He has also served as an adjudicator and clinician at local music festivals, such as the Coronado Jazz Festival and the San Diego Bass Fest. Justin received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from San Diego State University while studying with bassists Gunnar Biggs and Bert Turetzky.
Lars Hoefs, cello, has been a professor of cello and music history at Sao Paulo State University in Campinas, Brazil since 2013. He has established himself as a leading expert on the cello repertoire of Brazilian composer Heitor VillaLobos and is the Artistic Director and Founder of the Villa-Lobos International Chamber Music Festival, based in Oceanside, which celebrated its 10th season in January 2024. Originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, Lars earned his high school diploma at the North Carolina School of the Arts, a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University studying with Hans Jorgen Jensen, and both his Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he studied with former Los Angeles Philharmonic principal cellist Ronald Leonard. Lars has released 8 albums on the Villa-Lobos International digital label in the last few years, featuring world premiere works by contemporary Brazilian composers as well as rare works by Villa-Lobos. With pianist Aline Alves, Lars was awarded the 2024 Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards in Latin American Chamber Music for their album Bachianas Brasileiras: Original and New Arrangements.
~ Proud supporter of Camarada’s 2025-2026 season
~ Builder of fine double basses, including an instrument specially commissioned by Andrés Martin
~ Detachable necks, custom string lengths, and copies of antique instruments available upon request
For more information visit www.nicklloydbasses.com
Carolina Jaurena, tango dance, has been teaching dance and performing for over twenty years and dancing tango with Camarada for six years. The height of her professional career was her role as a primary dancer in the feature film Random Hearts, directed by Sidney Pollack. She has performed in Eternal Tango with Hector del Curto, the show Tanguero, Tango! Soul and Heart with the Choral Arts Society of Washington at Kennedy Center, and the off-Broadway Show Tango House , produced by Juan Fabbri. Her international workshops and performances include Canarias Tango in Spain, 100 Años de Tango at the Solis Theater in Uruguay, and in Germany at the Theaterhaus in Stuttgart, Alte Synagoge in Hechingen, and Landesakademie in Ochsenhausen. She has performed and taught at many tango festivals including Tango Norte Festival in Sweden, Yale Tango Fest, Tango Fest Houston, and New Orleans Tango Festival. Carolina is sought after as a dancer and teacher and renowned for her precision of movement, professionalism, and charisma. In 2023, Carolina and her dance partner Andrés Bravo performed with The United Nations Festival Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Pablo Jaurena, bandoneon, born in Córdoba, Argentina, holds a degree in music composition from the National University of Argentina in Córdoba. In 2007, he graduated from the School Orchestra of Tango Emilio Balcarce in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is a soloist and occasional guest conductor for the Orquesta Provincial de Música Ciudadana de Córdoba. From 2011 to 2015, Jaurena was the Artistic Director of the Tango Orchestra of the System of Music Schools of Medellín, Colombia. Since 2013, he has been the director of the Orquesta Típica Ciriaco and the School Orchestra of Tango in Córdoba, Argentina. In 2020, Jaurena was named Artistic and Teaching Director of the School Orchestra of Tango at the
National University of Villa María in Córdoba. In 2015, he formed the Pablo Jaurena Sextet. He has participated in more than 40 recordings as bandoneon player, arranger, or artistic director. His works and arrangements have been performed by ensembles and orchestras from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, China, the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, among others. In 2023 his album Retrato del Aire was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards.
Mackenzie Leighton, double bass, is a bassist and composer from San Diego, CA. He has performed with jazz legends such as Pat Metheny, Donald Brown, and Geoffrey Keezer, and works regularly with Southern California jazz heroes Peter Sprague, Gilbert Castellanos, and Kamau Kenyatta. He has performed at the Carlsbad Music Festival, the Ensenada Jazz Festival, the Tijuana Jazz and Blues Festival, and Idyllwild Jazz in the Pines. He has released two albums as a leader, I Remember and MLTRIO, and his compositions have been featured on recordings by San Diego State University and themattsmithneujazz trio. He is a lecturer at Palomar College and CSU San Marcos, where he directs the jazz ensembles, and is on the studio faculty of a number of colleges in Southern California. He holds a Master’s in Music from San Diego State University.
Batya MacAdam-Somer, violin, is a violinist, violist, and vocalist specializing in collaboration and experimentation. Her work spans classical, avant-garde, folk, and popular music practices, taking her to venues throughout the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Europe. She has collaborated with ensembles including wasteLAnd, Bang On A Can All-Stars, PARTCH Ensemble, Wild Up, and ICE, appearing on stages at the Ojai Music Festival, La Jolla SummerFest, and Festival Vértice. Batya resides in San Diego, where she often works with organizations such as Project [BLANK], Art of
Elan, The Hutchins Consort, San Diego Baroque, Camarada, and Bach Collegium San Diego. She is a member of Quartet Nouveau, a non-profit string quartet whose mission is to make classical chamber music available to all San Diegans, and Sädesärla, a word fusion duo with Christopher Adler.
Praised for his “apt eloquence” and “persuasive, stylish ardor” (San Diego Story), violist Travis Maril is an accomplished chamber musician and innovative pedagogue. He is proud to have performed with Camarada for over a decade. Travis was the gold medal winner of the 2021 Violympics, an online competition of over a hundred violinists and violists organized by Boston Symphony Concertmaster Nathan Cole, with a panel of judges including Augustin Hadelich, James Ehnnes, and Gil Shaham. In the fall of 2025, Travis begins an appointment as Assistant Professor of Viola at the University of New Mexico. Prior to that, Travis taught at San Diego State University’s School of Music and Dance for nearly two decades. At SDSU, Travis co-founded the String Academy, a pre-college program for string students. He was awarded Outstanding SDSU Music Faculty Member in 2021. On his website, www.travis-maril.com , Travis writes regularly on string pedagogy and leads online workshops and educational programs through which he works with hundreds of violists from all over the world. Travis earned his degrees at the University of Southern California and Rice University, studying with Donald McInnes, Ralph Fielding, Karen Ritscher, Che-Yen Chen, and Nathan Cole.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Andrés Martín, double bass, Composer-in-Residence, is a celebrated composer, producer, and virtuoso double bass soloist whose work resonates with audiences worldwide. Andrés’ compositions are renowned for their emotional depth and cultural richness, drawing from his diverse experiences across Argentina, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Uruguay,
Chile, Brazil, Mexico, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and the United States.
Andrés has dedicated himself primarily to composing for the last few years, creating new works that have been performed and commissioned by virtuoso soloists, chamber ensembles, and orchestras globally. His music spans continents, showcasing his passionate and emotionally moving musical voice. Audiences and performers alike find deep meaning in his compositions and are frequently moved to tears by the profound emotions his music evokes.
As the principal double bass of the Orquesta de Baja California from 2002 to 2023, Andrés played a crucial role in the orchestra’s success. He founded and directed the Contrabajos de Baja California International Bass Festival from 2003 to 2019, fostering a vibrant community of bass enthusiasts and professionals.
Currently, Andrés serves as the composerin-residence for The Hutchins Consort and Camarada, prestigious chamber ensembles in Southern California. His compositions highlight his ability to blend cultural influences with emotional power, including his pieces New Beginnings, concerto for Hutchins violin consort and Orchestra, Abrazar al viento, and various concertos.
2024 was a particularly significant year for Andrés. The world premiere of his Morgante Concerto for violin and orchestra, performed by Samuel Vargas and the San Bernardino Symphony and conducted by Anthony Parnther, was a resounding success. He also wrote the Anthem for the 2024 World Design Capital event held in San Diego and Tijuana, joining together the San Diego Youth Orchestra and the Tijuana Orquesta Juvenil. Andrés also composed two cello concertos, two bass concertos, and the Alma de fueye Bandoneon Concerto, which was premiered in 2024 by the great César Olguín.
In 2019, Andrés received the International Society of Bassists Composition Award, becoming the first Latin American composer to receive this honor, in recognition of his contributions to the repertoire of the double bass. His Double Bass Concerto No. 1 has been performed in over 30 countries around the world, serving as the required work for several international solo competitions and orchestral auditions worldwide, as well as a subject of research papers in universities in Europe and the United States.
Andrés has written around 70 works for solo double bass, as well as several other chamber and orchestral works and concertos for solo instruments. He has also contributed to the musical community through his signature solo double bass, designed for Eastman Strings, which has been played by musicians worldwide. As a D’Addario artist, he continues to influence and inspire fellow musicians, enhancing the artistry of the global music community.
Andrés Martín’s career is a testament to his dedication to composition, bridging cultures, and connecting people through the universal language of music. His work continues to inspire and resonate with audiences and musicians alike. Andrés plays a double bass made by Nick Lloyd.
Elena Mashkovtseva, harp, has won attention as one of the world’s outstanding harpists through numerous appearances as a soloist and chamber musician. She has enchanted audiences throughout the world with her virtuosity, grace, and elegance. Ms. Mashkovtseva is a graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where she studied with the celebrated harpist Vera Dulova. She was awarded First Prize at the International Competition in Moscow. After graduating, Ms. Mashkovtseva held the principal harp position with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. Since leaving Moscow, she has appeared with the Orquesta de Baja California,
Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes, Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Orchestra Nova, St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, Chamber Orchestra Kremlin under Misha Rachlevsky, The Hutchins Consort, Camarada, and the San Diego Opera. Ms. Mashkovtseva is a Professor of Harp at San Diego State University and University of San Diego, and she has her own private harp studio in San Diego.
Duncan Moore, percussion, grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and began drum studies at the age of eight. He majored in music at the University of Iowa, studied with Tom Davis, and played with local jazz groups until his move to San Diego in 1977. Over the last forty-five years, he has performed and/ or recorded with many national and local artists, including: Ray Brown, Kim Carnes, Dave Carpenter, Joe Chambers, Billy Childs, Holly Hofmann, Rickie Lee Jones, Kenny Loggins, Pat Metheny, James Moody, Peter Sprague, Steve Wilson, and Mike Wofford. Duncan has a home studio where he records and provides drum instruction.
Peter Sprague, guitar, is a highly acclaimed musician and composer. With his forty-plus years as a professional guitarist, Peter has evolved into a musical powerhouse, having produced and played on over 400 recordings. He has also published eleven songbooks of his own music. Peter conducts the majority of his endeavors in Southern California, staying close to his family, and where he is, without dispute, San Diego’s premier jazz talent. He has won numerous awards for his artistry, including Best Jazz Artist for San Diego, and was inducted into the San Diego Music Hall of Fame. Peter has worked with some of the greats: Dianne Reeves, Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Pat Metheny, David Benoit, and many others too numerous to count. Peter’s full list and discography can be found on his website, www.petersprague.com.
Tripp Sprague, saxophone, is a jazz saxophonist based out of the San Diego area. Tripp also plays flute, chromatic harmonica, and EWI. He has performed extensively with the area’s top jazz musicians including his brother, guitar player Peter Sprague; bassist Bob Magnusson; and pianist Geoffrey Keezer. Tripp‘s musical versatility has led to invitations to perform with international acts such as jazz singer Mose Allison, Kenny Loggins, and Motown legend Smokey Robinson. Tripp also co-produced and performed on the self-titled CD from the group Blurring the Edges, which won Best Pop-Jazz Album at the San Diego Music Awards. Tripp also runs a recording studio from his home where he has produced and recorded CDs for numerous local artists.
Allison Adams Tucker, voice, was born in San Diego to classically trained musical parents, Allison’s vocal palette has been colored by her experience in a variety of musical genres throughout her life, from classical to punk rock to a cappella Elizabethan madrigals. In 2005, she found her home in jazz. In addition to Allison’s discography of four albums and three EPs recorded in New York, Paris, and San Diego. Allison’s voice can be heard on various other album collaborations, TV commercials, and on the soundtrack of the video game The Saboteur, singing French jazz in the company of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Madeleine Peyroux, and others. She has toured in Japan, Europe, Mexico, and the US, including performances at the Blue Note New York, Ronnie Scott’s London, Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Los Angeles, San Jose Jazz Fest, Tula’s Seattle, East Hawaii Jazz & Blues Fest, Hawaii Public Radio Honolulu, Lucca Jazz Donna Festival Tuscany, Music Inn Rome, Le Baiser Salé Paris, Takatsuki Jazz Street Festival Osaka, and Body & Soul Tokyo, among others.
FAMILY FOUNDATION
Thank you to The Anklesaria Family Foundation for their continued support of Camarada’s outreach presence in San Diego.
What began as a handful of concerts put together by passionate musicians has grown into a thriving nonprofit and a staple of the Southern California arts community, with visionary programming featuring the work of world-renowned local and visiting artists.
WE RELY ON YOU - OUR SUPPORTERS - IN ORDER TO FULFILL OUR MISSION
Camarada, one of San Diego’s premier chamber music organizations, is dedicated to presenting innovative performances of musical masterworks and exciting premieres of newly commissioned music. Established in 1994, Camarada’s programming combines performers of the highest caliber with intimate artistic spaces throughout San Diego to create personal and engaging chamber music experiences. Camarada collaborates with the San Diego community in these diverse ways:
Camarada creates
• Eclectic concerts featuring a wide range of styles and composers, from the Baroque to Classical, Jazz and Tango.
• Commissions of music and art by local and national composers/artists.
• Experiences in intimate venues throughout our community, including art galleries, churches, libraries, community centers, retirement homes, and schools.
• Community outreach programs reaching San Diegans who may not have the ability to regularly attend ticketed musical and artistic events.
Camarada is recognized by
• Mingei International Museum as Artists-in-Residence (since 2014)
• San Diego Music Awards as nominee for Best World Music Album of the Year for Tango Nuevo (2011) and Tango San Diego (2019)
• The San Diego Union-Tribune as a Top Classical Music Pick for Fall (2022 and 2025) & Spring (2024)
• The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center and the La Jolla Music Society as an inaugural Resident Company
Camarada collaborates with
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
• Central Cultural Tijuana (CECUT)
• The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, La Jolla
• Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego
• KPBS
• KSDS-FM Jazz 88.3
• La Caja Gallery, Tijuana
• La Jolla Music Society
• Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park
• UC San Diego Park & Market, Downtown East Village
• UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies
• Cienarte Foundation & Destaoriya Foundations in Montevideo, Uruguay
• Foundation Humanae Pro Vitae in La Plata, Argentina Camarada receives grants from
• The City of San Diego Cultural Affairs
• County of San Diego Community Enhancement Program
• Girard Foundation
• Prebys Foundation
• The San Diego Foundation
Thank You to Our Supporters Encuentro 2025
– 2026 Season
$25,000+
Jeff Barnouw
The City of San Diego
Zoraida & Gary Payne
$15,000+
Elaine Baldwin & Carl Nelson
Jennifer & Kurt Eve
Désirée Michelle
$10,000+
Beth & David Buckley
Ann Craig
Rob Sidner
Susan & Gary Spoto
$5,000+
Kathy & Gary Dahl
Sheryl & Bob Scarano
Patsy & Steven Tomlin
Mary Walshok
$2,500+
Anklesaria Family Foundation
Mary Barranger
Bob Black
Angela Wang, MD & Douglas Conrad, MD
Linda & Rick Dicker
Dana Burnett & Bruce Ennis
Irene & Eduardo Feller
Renetta & Preston Gable
Pat & Bob Hughes
Jeanette & Brian Malone
Nancy & Rip Patton
Marjorie Wahlsten
Mary Kay & Jim Waters
$1,500+
Rosemary & John Benya
Nancy Wilkins-Diehr
Sally & Einar Gall
Kisma Orbovich
Cathy & James Sigismonti
Jeanne & Roger Simmons
$1,000+
Seonaid McArthur & Barry Bilinski
Kathy Hoffmann-Grotting & John Grotting
Margaret McMillan
Renato Salazar & Jonathan McMullen
$500+
June & Dan Allen
Karen & Brian Anderson
Michael & Prue Arbib
Maureen King
Marianne & Fred Kocks
Valerie Lee
Pamela Loch
Dan Mashburn
Garna Muller
Angela Scioscia & Steve Plaxe
Dannie Sue & John Reis
Magdalena Remillard
Vanya Russell
Marshall Sashkin
Ione & Anthony Steigler
Charles Tiano
Helen Wagner
Lili Walsh
Penelope & John West
$100+
Aaron's Computer Relief
Charles Betlach
George Boomer
Susan Crockett
Nelly & Paul Dean
Jeane Erley
Janet Evans
Helen Friend
Lori Greenberg
Kay & William Gurtin
Patricia Hendrickson
Lisa Kallenberg
Jane Kolar
Paul Krueger
Harvey Levine
Susan & Mike Lieberman
Claudia Lowenstein
Barbara Malone
Paula Lee McColl
Art Olson
Gwynn Carter Rice
Jeanne Saier
Ann & Ronald Simon
Kathleen & Martin Steinley
Lisa Stennes
Marilyn Stewart
Sidney Stutz
Judy White
Robert Young
Lee & Eric Zucker
Camarada Friends
Aaron Buckley Ceramics
Albina Browtique
Anklesaria Family Foundation
Artifact Café
Artistic Pianos
Bird Rock Fine Wine
Bach Collegium San Diego
Chateau Bel Age
Daniel Rumley Audio Production
Farmhouse Catering
Guarneri Integrative Health
Haichris Printing
Imaging Healthcare Specialists
James Waters, Artist
KSDS Jazz 88.3
Kisma, Prosperity Coach
KPBS
La Jolla Music Society
La Jolla Symphony
Loveleen
Martin Steinley Wine Merchant
Maura Reyes, The Wine Shop
MedDerm Dermatology
Melissa Botello & John Morgan
Mingei International Museum
MOBO Vineyards
Nick Lloyd Basses
Opera Neo
Pacific Pearl Clinic
Paula Lee McColl, Artist
Quantum Mergers & Acquisitions
San Diego Early Music Society
Scarlet Wilette Graphic Design
Taylor Guitars
Thomas DeMello, Artist
Team Advantage - Pacific Sothebys
UC San Diego Park & Market
Wealth Analytics
CONCERT UNDERWRITERS
Elaine Baldwin & Carl Nelson
Jeff Barnouw
Beth & David Buckley
Ann Craig
Jennifer & Kurt Eve
Pat & Bob Hughes
Désirée Michelle
Zoraida & Gary Payne
Sheryl & Bob Scarano
Rob Sidner
Susan & Gary Spoto
Mary Walshok
COMPOSERS CIRCLE
Jeff Barnouw
Beth & David Buckley
Angela Wang & Douglas Conrad
Ann Craig
Patricia & Rafael Fernàndez de Castro
Kathy & Gary Dahl
Linda & Rick Dicker
Jennifer & Kurt Eve
Renetta & Preston Gable
Sally & Einar Gall
Kathy Hoffmann-Grotting & John Grotting
Désirée Michelle
Elaine Baldwin & Carl Nelson
Zoraida & Gary Payne
Rob Sidner
Cathy & James Sigismonti
Jeanne & Roger Simmons
Susan & Gary Spoto
Patsy & Steven Tomlin
Mary Walshok
Camarada wishes to thank our extraordinary musicians, our dedicated board, staff, and volunteers!
BOARD MEMBERS
Jeff Barnouw, President
Robert J. Hughes, Vice President
Susan Spoto, Past President
Kathy Dahl, Secretary
Elaine Baldwin, Chris Berg, Désirée Michelle, Zoraida Payne, Jeanne Simmons, Rob Sidner
ADVISORY BOARD
Ann Craig, Jennifer Eve, Don Young
STAFF
Beth Ross Buckley, Artistic Director & Founding Member
Dana Burnett, Associate Artistic Director
Lisa Barnhouse, Executive Director
Sydney Roslin, Operations Manager
Debbie Aubert, Bookkeeper
Scarlet Willette, Graphic Design
Arlene Damasco & Dianna Gould, Social Media
Daniel Rumley, Audio & Video
Monique Feil, Photography
Dates, times, programs, and artists are subject to change. Painting by James Waters, Free Oranges Forever (a long prayer). Photography by Monique Feil, Gary Payne, & Beth Ross Buckley.
