Eléctrica:
music that ignites & inspires
“Under the Same Moon” by Eva Malhorta
La Caja Galeria, Tijuana
Eléctrica:
music that ignites & inspires
MINGLE @ Mingei
MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM IN BALBOA PARK, 1439 El Prado, San Diego
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, October 24, 2024 @ 7:30pm earth. wind. water. fire.
music by Michael Torke, Philippe Gaubert, Zoltán Kodály & Composers Circle Commission by Oliviana Marie flute, viola, cello, piano, marimba
Thursday, March 27, 2025 @ 7:30pm an evening of harmonic indulgence
music by Bohuslav Martinu, Gilad Cohen, George Gershwin, Claude Debussy flute, violin, viola, piano, harp
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 9, 2024 @ 7:30pm explore the edges of emotion in the music and art of Mexico
music by Gabriela Ortiz, Leonardo Coral, José Rolón, Andrès Martin art commission unveiling – Hugo Crosthwaite flute, string quartet, double bass, piano, guitar
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 @ 7:30pm up close and personal the world of tango
music by Andrés Martín, Pablo Jaurena & Astor Piazzolla flute, violin, double bass, piano, bandoneon
2024–2025 SEASON
CAMARADA @ The Conrad
THE CONRAD PREBYS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla
Experience the magnificent beauty and acoustics of San Diego’s premier concert hall.
Saturday, December 21, 2024 @ 7:30pm
jazz to dazzle and light up your holidays
music by jazz icon Vince Guaraldi with a Peter Sprague twist voice, guitar, flutes, saxophone, double bass, piano, drums
Saturday, February 1, 2025 @ 7:30pm celebrating the diversity and richness of musical expression
music by George Frederick Händel, Jordan Kuspa & Heitor Villa-Lobos voice, flute, string quartet, double bass, harp, keyboard
March 1, 2025 @ 7:30pm
seduces the senses, stirs the soul
music by Pedro Maffia, Astor Piazzolla, Eduardo Rovira, Aníbal Troilo, Andrés Martín
flute, violin, double bass, piano, bandoneon, dance
Sunday, April 27, 2024 @ 4:00pm
a jazz-infused magical mystery tour
music of the Beatles arranged by Peter Sprague voice, guitar, flutes, saxophone, double bass, piano, drums
TA N G O TA N G O TA N G O
The Camarada Tango Quartet just returned from an unforgettable tour to Montevideo and Buenos Aires, immersing ourselves into the rich and passionate world of tango. In Montevideo, we were welcomed with open arms by the Cienarte and Destaoyira Foundations, two incredible organizations devoted to celebrating and preserving the cultural heritage of tango. We presented outreach programs at The Republic University of Montevideo - sharing music with eager students, sparking conversations and connections. The tour featured a performance at Auditorio Vaz Ferreira where the audience loved the new compositions by Andrés. We also enjoyed performing two tangos with the students. After our time in Montevideo we journeyed by ferry to Buenos Aires and on to perform a concert in La Plata for the Pro Humanae Vitae Foundation. The next day back in Buenos Aires, we performed at Alliance Francaise to a very welcoming audienceincluding Andrés Martín's parents and his high school bass teacher. A highlight of the tour was recording at the iconic ION Estudios. This tour was a rich cultural exchange, giving us the chance to connect with the people, soul, and legacy of tango.
Gary Payne Photography
WELCOME
Dear Friends,
For the past 30 years, Camarada has been on a mission to create music that moves YOU—our cherished Camarada community. I am constantly in awe of music's ability to stir our emotions—whether it brings us to tears, fills us with joy, promotes a sense of healing or makes us want to dance. Music connects us with the world around us and reminds us of the essence of being human.
Camarada began with a mere thought. After moving to San Diego from San Francisco, where I had performed with several chamber ensembles, I found myself unable to find a group to join. Then, while attending a breathtaking chamber music concert in an art gallery in Vienna, it hit me: “I want to create this in San Diego!” And as they say, the rest is history.
As we celebrate our 30th season, we are excited to explore the music and stories of the people and places that shape our world. This season’s programming draws from a wide and eclectic range of voices and experiences, all tied together by the music that touches our lives in meaningful ways.
I invite you to join us for what promises to be a thrilling season, featuring eight diligently curated programs that offer rich musical experiences. This 30-year milestone gives us the opportunity to listen, reflect, and celebrate the energy of music that connects, inspires and ignites us all.
Highlights for Season 30 Eléctrica: music that inspires & ignites
• 3 New Commissions supported by the Camarada Composers Circle - Andrés Martin, Oliviana Marie & Hugo Crosthwaite
• Reflexion y Ritual - explore the music and art of Mexico
• The return of Charlie Brown Jingles & Jazz –a San Diego holiday favorite!
• Guest Artist: Soprano Tasha Koontz bringing the magic of Handel
• Introducing The International Art of Tango Festival – spanning San Diego & Tijuana
• Guest Artist: Pablo Jaurena, bandoneon tango master from Córdoba, Argentina
• Brilliant Concert Narrations by Robert John Hughes at The Conrad
Thank you for being a part of this adventure with us!
In Gratitude, Beth Ross Buckley
• Exciting collaborations with Mingei International Museum, UC San Diego Park & Market, La Jolla Music Society and The Conrad
• Talks with Commissioned Composers & Artists at our concerts – get the inside scoop!
• Over 30 concerts – from Buenos Aires to San Francisco!
• “Conversations with the Masters” –intimate fundraising events
• Local composers and our personal musical favorites from past seasons
• Celebrating 30 years with a Beatles/Peter Sprague Celebration of Love
CELEBRATING YEARS
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
Terra Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas
FAMILY FOUNDATION
Thank you to Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer & Nora Vargas and 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, 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) & Spring (2024)
Camarada collaborates with
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
• Bread & Salt, Barrio Logan
• 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
• Mujeres Brew House, Barrio Logan
• 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 Viate in La Plata, Argentina
Camarada receives grants from
• City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture
• County of San Diego Community Enhancement Program
• The Conrad Prebys Foundation
• The San Diego Foundation
DONATE HERE
At Camarada, we value the power music has to provide solace, move us to action, and bring us closer as a community. Eléctrica 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 29 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!
Donate Now
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
Artistic Directors
Beth Ross Buckley, flute
Beth Ross-Buckley is the visionary Founder and Artistic Director of Camarada. For the past 30 years she has been the creative force behind this dynamic ensemble. She has curated chamber music throughout San Diego with innovative events combining 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 San Francisco Chamber Players, numerous San Francisco Bay Area orchestras and chamber ensembles and the National Flute Association Conventions. She was 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.
When she’s not creating magical musical moments, Beth is behind the camera, capturing beautiful portraits through her photography business, Beth Ross Buckley Photography. As Artistic Director of Camarada, she has successfully led two exciting South American tours and many tours across the United States for The Camarada Tango Quartet, expanding the ensemble’s reach and impact. The quartet’s album Tango Bajo el Agua, recorded at Estudios Ion in Buenos Aires, is reaching audiences worldwide. With a flair for creativity and a deep dedication to the arts, Beth continues to guide Camarada to new heights, welcoming new and fresh compositions, talented musicians, and enthusiastic audiences to its ever-growing story.
Dana Burnett, piano
Dana is currently Associate-Artistic Director of Camarada and has been a member of the ensemble since 2011. 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. A soloist and chamber musician, Ms. Burnett has performed at Carnegie Hall; the Frick Collection, Pittsburgh, Dame Myra Hess Series, Chicago; Academy of Music, Philadelphia and the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. As a member of the piano faculty for 18 years at the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC she was a yearly concerto soloist, instructor, orchestra pianist and chamber musician with many luminaries. She has recorded for the Naxos and Arabesque labels and been featured on WHYY, Philadelphia Fresh Air and NPR. Dana performs with California Chamber Orchestra and Classics 4 kids and maintains a private piano studio in Carlsbad. Ms. Burnett is on the music faculty at Cal State San Marcos. In 2023 and 2024 she toured Argentina with Camarada performing in many venues including the American Embassy in Buenos Aires, La Plata and Cordoba.
Guest Artists
Fred Benedetti, guitar
Fred 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, Czech Republic, 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. As a studio musician and composer for 40 years his 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.
David Buckley, violin
David Buckley has been an integral part of Camarada for all 30 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.
Andrés Bravo, tango dance
Andrés Bravo is a talented dancer, instructor, and choreographer and has studied with world-renowned Tango Masters such as Miguel Ángel Zotto, Martín Ojeda, Roberto Herrera, Julio Balmaceda, and Gabriel Misse. In 1999, his performance career launched when he became a part of the Tango Festival Colombo Argentina. Mr. Bravo has been recognized in World Tango Competitions and Festivals. In 2006, he was the National Stage Tango Champion in Tangovia, and in 2019, he became the official United States Tango Salon Champion and won first place in the SoCal Tango Championship. Mr. Bravo has dedicated a great part of his career to teaching tango to people from all walks of life in a unique and effortless way. Andrés Bravo’s genuine, warm personality and years of experience as a choreographer, instructor, and dancer of salon and stage Tango continue to lead him to great success. He is currently based in New York City, where he teaches and performs.
Ruslan Buryukov, cello
Ruslan 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 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 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 Ysaye Quartet. Additionally, Mr. Biryukov is the only musician in the world to be granted a US Commercial Pilot's 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.
Danny Green, piano
Danny Green is a well-known jazz pianist who has earned recognition as a recording artist, bandleader and composer taking him from the Blue Note in New York City to the Blue Whale in Los Angeles. Danny Green revealed his unique talents on his 2009 debut recording With You in Mind. The album rose to #18 on the Jazz Week Charts and won “Best Jazz Album” at the 2009 San Diego Music Awards. In 2012, Green teamed up with Tapestry Records to release A Thousand Ways Home , featuring Justin Grinnell on bass, Julien Cantelm on drums, and Tripp Sprague on sax. The Danny Green Trio, comprised of Green, Grinnell, and Cantelm, released the album After The Calm featuring ten of Green’s compositions and won “Best Jazz Album” at the 2015 San Diego Music Awards and was nominated for “Album of the Year.” The trio continues to record and release music such as their 2016 release, Altered Narratives , and their first full length album One Day It Will, in 2018.
Lars Hoefs, cello
Lars 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 celebrating 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 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 has been awarded the 2024 Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards in Latin American Chamber music for their album Bachianas Brasileiras: Original and New Arrangements
Carolina Jaurena, tango dance
Carolina has been teaching dance and performing for over 20 years and dancing tango with Camarada for 5 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, 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.
Rebecca Jade, voice
Rebecca is an accomplished singer/songwriter and has been able to turn her love for music into a career for close to two decades. She has performed with some of the most sought-after musicians all over the world and her versatility has allowed her many unique opportunities to perform. Rebecca has toured with the Queen of Percussion, Sheila E, since 2017 and appeared in the Emmy-nominated show, Let’s Go Crazy: The GRAMMY Salute to Prince that aired on CBS in April 2020. She also sang background vocals for Sir Elton John at the 2020 Academy Awards. Rebecca has done multiple concerts at Spaghettini in Seal Beach and was the singer in the Houseband at Anthology in San Diego for 5 1⁄2 years. Rebecca Jade earned two San Diego Music Awards in 2022 for “Best Music Video” & “Best R&B/Funk/Soul Song.” An accomplished jazz vocalist, she released an album of Cole Porter classics titled Planet Cole Porter with arranger/producer/jazz guitar virtuoso Peter Sprague. This album was awarded the 2018 “Best Jazz Album” at the San Diego Music Awards. Rebecca graduated from UC Berkeley on a full basketball scholarship with a degree in Theatre & Performance Studies, has earned her MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix and advanced her musical education by studying Jazz Theory and Classical Voice at Grossmont College. Rebecca is an avid motorcycle rider, has an affinity for classic cars, and loves the arts community as a whole.
Pablo Jaurena, bandoneon
Pablo Jaurena, 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 the soloist for the Orquesta Provincial de Música Ciudadana de Córdoba and occasional guest conductor. From 2011 to 2015, Jaurena was the Artistic Director of the Tango Orchestra of the System of Music Schools of Medellin, 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, Argentina. 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, Italy, and among others. In 2023 his album Retrato del Aire was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards.
Michael
Jones, percussion
Michael Jones is a percussionist based in San Diego, California. His creative and scholarly work focuses on touch, resonance, and the enchanted currents of objects. He is a co-founder and member of Offscreen with Alexander Ishov, and Duo Refracta with Shaoai Ashley Zhang. He has performed at the Ojai Music Festival, Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Noon-to-Midnight Festival, the Other Minds Festival, the Dog Star Orchestra Festival, and the Hartford New Music Festival. He has completed residences at the Nief-Norf Summer Festival (Tennessee), the Darmstadt Courses for New Music (Germany), the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (Canada) and others. He can be heard on the Naxos, New Focus, Edition Wandelweiser, Cold Blue, Sawyer Editions, and New World labels. He holds degrees from the University of Hartford, where he studied with Benjamin Toth, and the University of California, San Diego, where he studied with Steven Schick. His debut solo album, Between Time and After, is now available from Chen Li Music. Michael endorses Marimba One vibraphones and marimbas.
Tasha Koontz, voice
Native Hawaiian soprano Tasha Hokuao Koontz has been recognized by Opera Wire for her “secure silvery high notes.”
In the 24-25 season, Tasha makes her South American debut and role debut singing Tosca with the Opera Nacional de Chile as well as her debut singing with the Metropolitan Opera as one of the Niñas in Golijov’s Ainadamar. In the previous season, Tasha returned to San Diego Opera to sing Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. Other roles at San Diego Opera include Nella in Gianni Schicchi and Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, Frida Image 1 in El último sueño de Frida y Diego, High Priestess in Aida, Frasquita in Carmen, Edith in Pirates of Penzance , and Annina in La Traviata. Other season highlights include concerts with Camarada, the Artonic Quartet, and the Garth Newel Quartet. A frequent concert artist, Tasha has sung as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Helena Symphony, Glacier Symphony, San Diego Festival Chorus & Orchestra, California Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Arts Orchestra, and orchestras of Newfoundland, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, and Northwestern University. Ms. Koontz took first place in the Musical Merit Foundation Awards competition, La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Young Artist Competition, and has received awards from the Susan and Virginia Hawk Vocal Scholarship and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Western Region. Ms. Koontz earned her Master’s in Music degree from Indiana University, where she studied with acclaimed soprano Carol Vaness, and her Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University.
Mackenzie Leighton, bass
Mackenzie Leighton is a bassist, composer, and educator from San Diego, CA. He works regularly with Southern California jazz heroes Peter Sprague, Gilbert Castellanos, and Kamau Kenyatta, and has worked with jazz legends such as Donald Brown, Geoffrey Keezer, and Sammy Figueroa. He has performed at the Carlsbad Music Festival, Ensenada Jazz Festival, Tijuana Jazz and Blues Festival, Camarada and Idyllwild Jazz in the Pines. He also works with local theaters including The Old Globe, Cygnet Theater, and Lamb’s Players. He is adjunct faculty at California State University San Marcos, Palomar College, and Mira Costa College, and holds a Master’s in Music from San Diego State University. Mackenzie recently performed at Lamb’s theater in Million Dollar Quartet to rave reviews and sold-out audiences in Coronado.
Abe Liebhaber, cello
Abe is originally from Santa Barbara, has performed chamber music throughout Italy and in master classes with Ann Martindale-Williams, Peter Reijto, Eleanor Schoenfeld, and Yo-Yo Ma. His teachers include Charlene Wilson, David Gibson, Barry Gold, and he has been coached by Daniel Rothmuller in Los Angeles and Harvey Shapiro in New York. He received his degrees in music performance from University of California Los Angeles as well as California State University Sacramento and holds positions in the Arizona Opera and Sarasota Opera orchestras. Abe’s interest in the study of Opera Italiana and the works and biographical life of Giuseppe Verdi has led to the study of Italian literature and opera at Middlebury College’s Italian Language program. He has also studied the art of bow making in the French tradition and maintains a shop in San Diego where he creates new bows and restores fine bows.
Batya MacAdam-Somer, violin
Batya MacAdam-Somer is a violinist, violist and vocalist specializing in collaboration and experimentation. Her work spans across classical, avantgarde, folk and popular music practices, taking her to venues throughout the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom and across Europe. She has performed with ensembles and organizations including Project [BLANK], Art of Elan, San Diego New Music, Festival Vértice, San Diego Baroque, Bach Collegium San Diego, wasteLAnd, Bang on A Can All-Stars, Hutchins Consort, San Diego Symphony, and the Reno Philharmonic. Batya is a member of Quartet Nouveau, a non-profit string quartet offering chamber music concerts and outreach programs, and Baby Bushka, an all-female band celebrating the music of Kate Bush. Batya received her DMA in contemporary violin performance from the University of California San Diego in 2014. She is a dedicated student of The Alexander Technique, a method for cultivating mind/body awareness and connection. Batya enjoys bringing an embodied approach into teaching, where she guides her violin/viola students to develop a grounding practice in which individual expression can emerge. She writes about anxiety, expression, and the culture of classical music on her Substack account, Lester Bangs Lives.
Oliviana Marie, composer
Oliviana Marie is a singer, dancer, actress, composer, lyricist, librettist, trumpeter, pianist, and conductor, currently studying composition at USC’s Thornton School of Music. She’s a YoungArts and Grammy Camp winner in the singer-songwriter category, a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts nominee, a Marvin Hamlisch International Music Award winner for best original R&B song (presented by Clive Davis), a twotime ambassador of Michael Feinstein’s Great American Songbook Academy, the winner of The Glenn Miller Big Band Scholarship competition, a 2023 Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Fellow and the winner of ASMAC’s 2023 Vocal Arranging and Big Band Arranging Scholarship Competition (the first person in ASMAC history to win in two categories in one year).Oliviana has written the book, music and lyrics to four award-winning musicals! Her most recent musical, “CORONA’S CABARET: An Act of Destruction” won the Audience Choice Award for PLAYBILL’s Virtual Theatre Festival Live.
Travis Maril, viola
Violist Travis Maril moved to San Diego in 2005 to join the Hyperion Quartet. As a member of the Hyperion, he collaborated with members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Miró Quartet and performed on NPR’s “Performance Today” and won a top prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music competition. Since his time with the quartet, he has continued to be an active chamber musician, collaborating with principal players of the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles and Rochester Philharmonics, and the Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and San Diego Symphonies. Travis was a Trustee Scholar and Outstanding Graduate at the University of Southern California, and earned his Master’s Degree at Rice University. Travis is very proud to have performed with Camarada for over a decade. In addition to his love of chamber music, Travis is also a passionate educator. He teaches viola to college and pre-college students at SDSU’s School of Music and Dance. In addition to his in-person teaching, Travis has helped hundreds of violists around the world improve their playing through his online program, String Gym.
Andrés Martin, double bass, and composer - Camarada Composerin-Residence
Native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Andrés Martín is a distinguished bassist, arranger, composer and producer renowned for his performances across the globe. His musical journey has led him to share his talent with audiences in Argentina, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and the United States. Upon settling in Tijuana, Mexico, Andrés has dedicated himself to a dual career of teaching and performing, both as a soloist and a chamber musician.
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 Bellas Artes, Orquesta Filarmonica de la UNAM, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Orchestra Nova, St. Petersburgh 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, University of San Diego and has her own private studio in San Diego.
As the principal bass of the Orquesta de Baja California from 2002 to 2023, he played a pivotal role in the orchestra’s success. He is also the visionary founder and director of the Contrabajos de Baja California International Bass Festival, which ran from 2003 to 2019, fostering a community of bass enthusiasts and professionals.
In addition to his performing career, Andrés is a prolific composer. The year 2024 is particularly eventful for Andrés, featuring the world premieres of several of his latest works. These include the Morgante Violin Concerto (Samuel Vargas & the San Bernardino Symphony) the US Premiere of New Beginnings Concerto (Hutchins Consort Violin Octet), and a variety of pieces ranging from chamber music to orchestral compositions, such as Silent (Camarada), Oliver Towne (Pioneer Valley Symphony & narrator), Juan Soldado (La Jolla Symphony), Bandoneon Concerto (Cesar Olguín & Orquesta de Baja California), Ritual (Orquesta de Baja California), Ilimitados (San Diego Youth Symphony), and Tango Bajo la Piel. Each piece promises to enrich the musical landscape with Andrés’ unique blend of cultural influences and innovative craftsmanship.
Andrés has also left a tangible mark in the bass world in the form of a signature solo double bass designed by him for Eastman Strings, which has reached players worldwide.
Elena Mashkovtseva, harp
Elena 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,
Duncan Moore, percussion
Duncan 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 fortyfive 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, Ricki 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
Peter 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 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. He has worked with some of the greats: Dianne Reeves, Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Pat Metheny, David Benoit, and many others too numerous to count. The full list and discography can be found on Peter’s website www.petersprague.com.
Tripp Sprague, saxophone
Tripp Sprague 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 the “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
Tel (760) 889-4836
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 and even a cappella Elizabethan madrigals. In 2005 she found her home in jazz. In addition to Allison’s discography of 4 albums and 3 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 video game The Saboteur soundtrack singing French jazz in the company of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Madeleine Peyroux, & 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.
Thank You to Our Supporters
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$15,000+
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COMPOSERS CIRCLE
Elaine Baldwin & Carl Nelson
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$100+ continued
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Thomas DeMello, Artist
Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland
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San Diego Early Music Society
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UC San Diego Park & Market
Wealth Analytics
BOARD MEMBERS
2025 International Art of Tango Festival
Tango Intimo | February 25, 7:30 pm
UC Park & Market - Downtown San Diego
Alma de Tango | February 27, 7:00 pm
CECUT – Tijuana, Mexico
The Art of Tango | March 1, 7:30 pm
The Conrad – La Jolla
THE CAMARADA TANGO QUARTET:
Beth Ross Buckley, flute | David Buckley, violin
Andrés Martín, double bass | Dana Burnett, piano
GUEST ARTISTS:
Pablo Jaurena, bandoneon
Carolina Jaurena and Andrés Bravo, tango dance
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
The Mexican Consulate in San Diego & The UCSD Center for U.S.- Mexican Studies (USMEX)
County of San Diego
Community Enhancement Program
County Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas
Jeff Barnouw, President
Robert J. Hughes, Vice President
Kathy Dahl, Secretary
Susan Spoto, Immediate Past President
David Alvarez, Elaine Baldwin, Zoraida Payne, Andrea Puente Catán, Jeanne Simmons, Désirée Wilson
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, Social Media
Daniel Rumley, Audio & Video
Dates, times, programs, and artists are subject to change. Cover image “Under the Same Moon” by Eva Malhorta @ La Caja Galeria, Tijuana. Photography by Gary Payne, Monique Feil, Beth Ross Buckley, Gabi Fisdal, and Nicole Gosé.
