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Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda – “El Sonero de la Calle”

Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda, known as “El Sonero de la Calle”

Photo of Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda — Photo – Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda

He was born in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is a singer-songwriter (he composes and sings his own songs, including the lyrics and the melody), percussionist, raised on the outskirts of the Santo Domingo neighborhoods, he developed an interest in Afro-Caribbean music. This is how he obtains a clear direction towards the creation of his own style to compose and sing this genre, which involves a series of different rhythms such as: guaracha, rumba, son montuno, bolero, mambo, son, jazz, guaracha and cha cha cha, known worldwide by its trade name “Salsa”.

He tells us that from his mother Carmen Sepúlveda and his aunt Santa Julia Sepúlveda, he inherited the passion for jazz music, bolero and son, also that his mother is an artist, but he did not get to record their music, however he went to competitions of television expressing his musical talent. Geovanny mentions that he liked music from an early age seeing this great specimen in turn, he says that his talent is born and empirical which he is seeing how it progresses in these times.

Photo by Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda — Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda in Dominican Republic

During his tour he obtained his artistic nickname “El Sonero de la Calle”, which was given to him by a great Dominican musician (bassist and arranger) named Rafael Victoria, better known as maestro Cuso Cuevas (he was a popular bassist who played with the most important popular music groups and orchestras), who was in the recording of “Batato”, mentions that he advised him the following… “that he should not change his theme of making music, that it be a different sonero, a street sonero… that he could interpret the reality of the street with his lyrics and way of singing ”

He comments that he spent a large part of his life in Caracas, Venezuela (approximately 18 years), despite having been born in the Dominican Republic, considering it his second homeland since he adores and / or loves Venezuela; During this time he met Dudamel and Orlando Latuci, his song “las carabelas” is a Venezuelan.

The teacher Ubeny Loaiza and Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda
– Photo

He also had the opportunity to sing with the “La Realidad” Orchestra, from there he began to give his beginnings as a singer, it all began in 2003 when Roberto Ledezma was singing a bolero and the orchestra director listened to it and without Knowing that he was a musician and I invited him to go to one of the rehearsals and when to a place called Caño Amarillo Estudio, in Caracas, Venezuela, and there I was part of the team that at that time was very necessary since they lacked a vocalist, From that moment on he appeared in the bars of Caracas, in the center of the city, he told us that it was a wonderful experience.

As time passes, his fondness for this wonderful culture born in Africa is born, brought to the Antilles and then brought to New York, USA by great masters such as Johnny Pacheco, Machito, Beny More, Santiago Cerón, José Bello, El Canario, Tito Puentes, La Typica 73, among other great musicians of this genre.

Photo of Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda and Andi Montañez — Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda and Andi Montañez – Photo

His first musical album was entitled “A las malas”, from which his first single is called “Batato” and in his musical theme “Satte de los Callejones” he indicated “El Sonero de la Calle”, the following quote … “Special dedication for all the neighborhoods of my Dominican Republic and the world. My goal is to reach the heart of the town, Geovanny L. Sepúlveda, El Sonero de la Calle.

In the current Covid-19 pandemic, many activities have been closed, especially in the musical world, but with extensive communication over the internet, many have chosen to use various platforms either to promote themselves as artists or to hold events (Facebook, Instagram, Tick Tock, Youtube, among others), and despite these complicated moments he gives us the great news that Leo Aguirre and Ubeny Loaiza are in charge of the new production of Geovanny Leonardo Sepúlveda, his new single under the musical direction of Ubeny Loaiza, owner of the La Sabrosura orchestra, giving rise to the music “Salsa Pura” which is a Rumba, which you will not stop hearing

At the end of the interview, he gives us a message for the new talents … “Study and have a lot of dedication to what you like, never stop and that the rest is in the hands of God.”

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Meet Gerardo Osvaldo – Salsa y Sentimiento Academy

Meet Gerardo Osvaldo Russo, director of the Salsa y Sentimiento Academy and organizer of the San Clemente Salsa Congress

One of the seaside and tourist cities in Argentina is San Clemente del Tuyu belonging to the La Costa district, in the province of Buenos Aires, a very cozy place especially if you have a beach taste, enjoy the beaches, the tourist hotels, the seafood and many other things.

This time we have Gerardo Osvaldo Russo, he was born on July 3, 1984, he lives in a small city called San Clemente Del Tuyú, Argentina, he mentions his tastes for salsa and Latin rhythms, he tells us that in 2005 he began to dance and listen to salsa, from that moment his taste and passion for this great musical genre began, then he went on to dance other Caribbean rhythms.

Since 2009, I have been teaching Caribbean Rhythms in the “SAOCO” studio, one of the best places to train in your country, for that I had to travel every week since it was 300 kilometers away from where I lived. Then he made an important decision, which consisted of dedicating himself completely to teaching and then in the future to be able to create new projects that he already had in mind.

He mentions that in the city where he lived, he had no way of training, since there were few resources and he could not get to do everything he had in mind, in addition, his motivation was to grow personally as a teacher and dancer, to be able to dump all the knowledge that he was going acquiring the people who went to his classes.
For the year 2008 he began to teach at the beginning as a hobby for a year and a half until he made the decision to work 100% in his profession; So today he has his own Dance Academy called “Academia Salsa y Sentimiento” which was inaugurated in 2012, where he is currently a coordinator and teacher.

Team photo of Gerardo Oswaldo Russo — Gerardo Oswaldo Russo’s team

Gerardo has also been in charge of organizing the “San Clemente Salsa Congress” for about 3 years, as well as for his institution he holds Salsa, Bachata and other Caribbean rhythms every year, these include seminars and trainings with great teachers. quality and track record.

The reason that allowed the inauguration of the “Academia Salsa y Sentimiento” was basically the need in the people (not only in their city, but also in the neighboring cities of Puerto de la Costa, which is the region to which San Clemente belongs del Tuyú) to have the opportunity to learn to dance, express themselves, find a place of liberation, belonging and also be able to meet people and socialize.

For what it is known for being the first dance academy registered in the entire region, feeling very proud of its work team and of itself. In a few words, they mention that their goal has always been for people to identify with the activities they do, find a place where they can learn and have fun, as well as recharge. Students entering this academy may do so without any experience or knowledge of the rhythm they wish to practice.

At the Salsa y Sentimiento academy you start from scratch but people who already have knowledge can also come because we have various levels, working with people from 3 years onwards.

The biggest goal to be achieved was to create an International Salsa Congress, where they proposed to bring their students to compete; and in 2016 they were able to do it with the reggaeton group with professor “Maximiliano Laplaca” reaching the finals of one of the most important competitions in Argentina and South America called “Argentine Aerobic and Dance Tournament” (TAAD).

In 2017 their official website was inaugurated where they can manage more information and not only through their Facebook account and in the academy, together with other companies in the city, they are working to provide benefits to their students and not only have the possibility of learning and have fun if they can not also access discounts and benefits in stores in San Clemente. There is also a project for a few years from now and it is to be able to train teachers who leave our Academy. And later he began to broadcast live on his radio “Sentimiento Salsero”to promote other artists in the musical world.

During the Covid-19 period, many activities were paralyzed, including face-to-face classes, but it has managed to keep up with online activities and events, where for the first time its salsa and feeling congress was a success in 2020, we all look forward to your next congress in 2021.

Gerardo Oswaldo Russo at the dance academy

At the end, he gives us a message for both students and future learners.

“My message is as a teacher but fundamentally as a human being is that you do not stop going in search of your dreams, as long as you work hard with responsibility, passion and respect, things can be achieved. To also tell anyone who wants to come to the Salsa y Sentimiento Academy, they will find a place not only where they can learn to dance and train, but also a human group of containment, a place where they can freely express and bring out everything they carry inside. Young and old, to whom we are united by the passion for dancing. Teachers who love what they do and want to pass it on to new generations. Always open to the possibility of listening to anyone who has new ideas to build a better ACADEMY SALSA Y SENTIMIENTO every year ”

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The project “A Bailar Colombia” that moved the country.

The beginning of the project “A Bailar Colombia”:

South America maintains an important space for Salsa in many of its main capitals, it is easy to speak of Lima as a great salsa and timbera area like Venezuela, but beyond the contributions they make, it cannot be forgotten that if It is not the most important, it is one of the main ones, is Colombia.

Cuba and Puerto Rico do a great job for the dissemination of this beautiful genre to the world, however Colombia accompanies much of this work for the south of this continent. Many of us already know Cali as a salsa city of birth, along with it Cartagena, Barranquilla and Buenaventura combine a good salsa team, an element that at the moment weakens other areas of this beautiful country.

The #ABailarColombia project directed by the Son Rumbero schools in Bogotá and Bucaramanga, Emily’s dance and Baila Latino de Medellín, Timbea and Danz in Barranquilla, as well as 5 other academies that work towards the growth of the academic training of Salsa dance in various modalities, in addition to the main genres of Afro-Latin dance music.

The Son Rumbero dance school with 16 years of experience, opened its headquarters in the capital Bogotá in 2017 and in 2018 it will go to Bucaramanga, the main concept is not only to dance, but to do it academically, quickly and effectively. The object is to teach in ideal spaces, that is why its main headquarters is located at calle 19 # 4-20 in Bogotá, Son Salomé nightclub, where at the end of each class a practice space is released in an environment destined to dance and enjoyment. a real night dance room, in the same way they handle a very effective project in distance education, who would say that you can learn from the comfort of your home, organized at your entire disposal and with supervised classes with dance professionals by video live classes , an incredible way to learn, you can contact them at 3022582306 or social networks like @sonrumbero.

If you are in Medellín, the options vary, the Baila Latino school rules the rhythm in this city since 2011, dedicated to training in various branches of dance, from porro to kizomba, they are located at Calle 44 # 80 – 31, with group classes of excellent level, they serve audiences of all ages with certified professionals, they manage competition groups, formed under professional dance lines, in their closest projects is being part of large festivals such as the Casinea in Bogotá and the Venezuela is Latin, easy to contact by 3104749407 and its social networks @academiabailaltino.

In the same order Emily’s dance opens doors in 2018 in Medellin with a comprehensive training proposal, where we can see classes in various disciplines with personalized attention in the hands of its director Emily Sánchez, a professional in the world of dance with more than 25 years of experience. artistic career, managing to project his work in 3 of the world’s continents, in this great proposal he leans classes of a particular nature that seek a guaranteed learning in a short time, they can take classes by the numbers 3008510304.

Visiting the northern area of Colombia on the coast we can dance to the rhythm of Danz in Barranquilla, a school with headquarters in Cr 46 82-71 vibra fitness studio and Cr 43 87-120 danceworkshop dedicates its program in the Cuban Casino, the bachata, the Feminine style in salsa and they even work on DanzKids, the latter a training profile for boys and girls, a fact that incorporates them into the world of dance from a very young age. With almost three years of foundation, they have managed to advance by having group classes at various levels and developing activities that allow recreation for the whole family, 3003827618 or Instagram @danzacademy.

Meringue Competition — Photo of dancers dancing Merengue

Similarly, Timbea in Barranquilla presented a very entertaining proposal to learn to dance, structured in 2018, this institution develops an important profile in Salsa, Merengue and Bachata, with dynamic classes under a very integrating criterion. Its founder and main instructor registers a trajectory of more than 7 years with awards and a good position in the world of salsa in Venezuela, being part of a prestigious school such as rhythm and essence in the state of Zulia, you can find them at 310 6326106 and on the networks by @ timbea2018.

Currently during the Covid-19 pandemic, many events, projects have been kept on hold until there is no danger of contagion, where many of the academies have chosen to give online classes and some competitions and / or congresses, remain fixed either online or in person, the latter depending on how the quarantine is at that time.

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GLASS MARCANO

SOWING ART IN PARIS

Young Venezuelan who marks a milestone in Paris. Her story predates her potential talent and invades the hearts of classical music fans. She was considered a potential marvel at the baton in the La Maestra contest held in France. She has explosive energy, interpretive intensity in directing, and she looks lighthearted. It is how the famed Latin American and music director, Gladysmar Marcano, is shown.

The story of Gladysmar del Valle Vadel Marcano, better known as Glass Marcano is very unique and has captivated the hearts of Parisians. This Venezuelan girl from Yaracuy state (Venezuela) with 26 years old has sown her art in the French capital since she entered the first edition of the contest for women conductors called La Maestra.

This three-day-long contest was held at the Paris Philharmonic Concert Hall in mid-September 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic. In this competition, which brought together 12 candidates out of a total of 220 from 51 nationalities, a repertoire was required for the execution of outstanding works from the 18^th, 19^th, and 20^th centuries, as well as contemporary works to observe the versatility of women leaders of the baton.

Glass was not the winner of this contest, but she was the greatest teacher of the sympathy of the group of musicians led by her after receiving the orchestra award and the institutional support necessary to continue with her training.

From the beginning, this disciplined and talented conductor captured the attention of the founder of the Paris Mozart Orchestra and member of the competition jury, Claire Gibault, who invited her to participate in a series of concerts with the Paris-Mozart Orchestra. “She told me:” in September I’m going to do a concert with the Paris Orchestra at the Paris Philharmonic and I’m going to share it with you “and that filled my heart a lot”, confessed the passionate music director to a digital medium.

… When you have a motivation that is additional to the professional when it is from the heart, you want to take over the world: I’m going there, I’m going to stand on the podium and I don’t speak English or French, but come on, I do know can…”. Glass Marcano

JUMPING OBSTACLES

Glass Marcano conducting the orchestra — Glass Marcano would like to direct Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring due to the level of technique required

The national and international press plus the regulars of social networks echoed his story. Glass Marcano with determination participated in the La Maestra contest in France, jumping all the obstacles prevailing in Venezuela.

The faithful anecdote of her aroused the interest of an audience. Glass wanted to advance in her artistic profession and thereby help her family financially. While browsing the Internet, she came across information about the Contest aimed especially at women symphony orchestra conductors, however, there is the first obstacle and it was the registration, they needed 150 euros. At first, Marcano was discouraged, but then she looked for the solution, borrowing money.

OK! The first hurdle cleared, but now she would have to buy suitable clothing to present herself. Glass, who lived in the Venezuelan capital for her law studies at the Central University of Venezuela, decided to return to her Yaracuy state and earn that money at her family’s fruit store.

Between dreams and practices, she was already managing to attend the contest. Wow! Glass is how it is done. However, the pandemic arrived that she did not have and for the fourth time. Another obstacle was approaching, the cost of the plane ticket with the date already close.

She thus informed the organizers of the French competition who helped her fulfill her dream. A humanitarian flight was the destination to reach Europe and that same day of her arrival it was her participation in the competition that would lead her to direct her new story.

When Glass came to the concert hall to perform, the strategy was simple and consisted of only two pillars: fun and connection. “The fun” was always present at the time of directing. Her dedication and passion confirmed it. The second pillar “the connection” was also achieved even though she did not speak the native language or English however, she established that connection with the musicians and the audience present who gave her an ovation when coming down from the podium. “I can tell you that before leaving for my participation, the organizers of the contest told me that the public applauds the director when he enters, but does not applaud when he leaves. When I finished directing the masterpiece, the audience immediately applauded. That was very impressive to me. For that reason I raise the orchestra because thanks to the orchestra it was the applause and I had to thank them”. Glass explained to a digital press.

Glass Marcano currently represents the Latino and Afro-Caribbean communities. Her next goal is to direct with the French technique and add the Latin “flavor” to it. “I like to feel the music, to be musical, to be passionate, but the technique is important, and that is why I am in Paris”, she said in an interview with journalist Pía Castro.

A week after the contest Glass began to attend rehearsals, she saw master classes and continues with her academic training at the conservatory. By 2022, her participation in a festival in Belgium is confirmed and she will have a presentation in Barcelona (Spain).

There are many ways to interpret a masterpiece, but the goal of a conductor is to convince the orchestra that your version is the right one”. Glass Marcano

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Meet Liz Castillo in our report for this May 2021 edition

In the Caribbean there is a group of islands that attract many tourists all year round for its warm beaches, music, history and / or culture, one of the most visited is the beautiful island of Cuba, where tropical tourism is excellent for tourists. , one of the provinces that stands out for being a land of beautiful landscapes and hospitable people who preserve their traditions is Pinar del Rio which is located in the westernmost part of Cuba, it highlights its extraordinary natural charms such as its caves and Pinar del Rio parks, its beaches are bathed by two waters “the Atlantic and the Caribbean” which you can see with the naked eye when you go there and having this great diversity and beauty, you can explore the seabed as there is great tourism ecological and practicing water sports, it also has green gardens, the mogotes of Viñales and its guano houses where tobacco leaves are dried, there is an impressive Mural of Prehistory, a huge cave painting g burned on the surface of a mogote where its tropical and exuberant colors allow it to be distinguished from afar.

This time we have the Cuban singer Marielys Castillo Prietos also known by the stage name Liz Castillo, who was born in this beautiful city Pinar del Rio, Cuba on September 20, 1985, tells us with affection the place where she was born and is the perfect description that we mentioned at the beginning of this article; currently she lives in Havana to better develop her musical career.

In 2000, he began his musical career where he joined the movement of amateur artists of “Casa de Cultura”, a place that belongs to the network of cultural institutions that make up the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cuba. where there is concerted cultural development between the community and state entities, aimed at the preservation, transmission and promotion of artistic and cultural samples of the community, there were workshops where visual arts, dance, music are taught … was able to present singing songs for both children and adults; which obtained several prizes in the diverse Contests.

During these 5 years he dedicated himself to recording his album called “Cosas Contigo” with full authorship, his songs have a great variety of musical genres such as Bachata, Salsa, Vallenato, among others in order to have a great musical enrichment and in turn achieve a greater reach to your audience.

Cosa Contigo - Liz Prieto — Cover of Marielys Castillo Prietos – Cosa Contigo

In 2004, she graduated from Elementary Level in Singing Specialty, and jointly received Popular Singing classes in Havana with her teacher Robertina Morales Silva, who is someone very important to her since she mentions that she owes her musical career to him. because during his beginnings, he was born with the concern and doubt of being a musician and she was the one who showed him his path and what is correct or not; When he received his classes with her, he discovered and obtained the answers to his concerns in his musical career, even today they keep in contact supporting her.

She begins to work on the composition of the songs of her authorship, where until today she has more than 25 works registered in the National Copyright Center, performed by recognized Orchestras and Soloists and by herself.

The emotion and inspiration to create his songs is “Love”, the most sincere and most sincere feeling there is, it is also inspired by its derivatives such as heartbreak, life and lived experiences; This is one of the ways that you express what you feel, what you like and what you don’t like and what you want to send to your audience.

A year later (2005), he joined the Ebano y Marfil group and the Ireme Group. On this same date the Polyphonic Choir of Pinar del Río was integrated, these were the first groups with which I worked instead of working as a soloist, it was a new world where he does not deny that for those who start in group music and with experience it is scary because they do not know if they will measure up or not (their own insecurities), if your desire to move forward and progress is stronger it will be appeased by gaining experience and more security, as happened to her, who is a person characterized by a person who never backs down and moves on, to catch up and strive to defend himself for which he has fought, since she herself knew what would happen by studying it, thought and assumed in his future, making this a wonderful and great experience.

Live- Liz Castillo — Photo of Marielys Castillo Prietos and her musical group

What better happiness and personal reward than listening to your musical themes on the street and expanding to radio stations and the internet, this is the best happiness that a musician has.

After 4 years he retired from the musical group to go to Havana (2009) to train more as an artist for a year at the Mariana de Gonitch Singing Academy, directed by Maestro Hugo Ósle, a very prestigious teacher from Havana, he is known As the director of the group that bears the name of the famous internationally renowned Russian singer and pedagogue, who preferred to live in Cuba and was in charge of preparing young talents, there Liz Castillo had her lyrical and popular singing classes and above all they took you to to do shows and concerts in all the theaters of Havana either as a soloist or in a group, thus cultivating in his career and to have a more accurate criterion in a few words he was covering a wide repertoire and varied musical genres from Folklor A; upon graduating he continued working and always asking his teacher Robertina Morales Silva for support.

She mentions that during the COVID-19 pandemic, she did not see the bad things but the positive things, it has been for her during that difficult year, very prosperous in her career since she has been able to get 2 singles that were previously in process or paused, 2 salsa songs ʺCanción sin Rostroʺ which is currently coming out these days with its video clip and soon ʺWhere our Love is bornʺ … the pandemic has paralyzed many things but we must take advantage of this time at home and she did it promoting herself and obtaining a greater reach through the internet platform using social networks.

“For live music to be heard by the public, that they like it and identify with it and to achieve at this time is through communications especially the internet and social networks”

“Canción sin Rostro” is a musical theme that aired recently, it tells us that during its creation it was not called that, but “De que vale”, because that change arose, it was a theme related to an unrequited love and at the end of the song was a happier ending instead of the sadness it had at the beginning, it is like for example seeing the dark side of life comes at the end to see the light, the most beautiful part of life.

Liz Castillo - Cosas Contigo — Musical themes by Liz Castillo

To the new talent that is currently emerging, Liz Castillo mentions that currently many people want to be a fast and famous artist, but the truth is… “the person who is going to be an artist is because they have it in their soul, mind and it is written in Life will go on and overcome its obstacles, no matter how difficult … the artist is born with that quality, those who are not will not be able to continue even with all the support in the world “…” the artist’s work is not for himself, but for others, respecting his audience with respect to his lyrics, a clear message without many complicated words ”

If you want to know more about her, listen to her songs or contact her:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizcastilloficial/
Canal de Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liz.c.prieto.7
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz.c.prieto.7/
Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/liz-castillo-09b005124
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCVBBbLlsIt2vv1WD-JjlxlA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/liz07156882

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0FMLrFYvhu14ITV7ecMHpx?si=9_e5Ru99QBqn_kWvZ3U7EA

Pleylist

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0FMLrFYvhu14ITV7ecMHpx?si=9uUH-GunTUKJ3R2DvPsibg

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