Iberia Airlines Sponsors Paco de Lucia Scholarship at Berklee College of Music

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Paco de Lucia’s legacy will live on…

Iberia Airlines is sponsoring a new scholarship in the name of the late Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist, composer and producer at Berklee College of Music, open to guitarists from Spain or Latin America.

According to Berklee, Juan Cabezon Oppici of Madrid is the winner of the 2016 scholarship, which covers tuition, travel and board for a five-week summer program.

The Spanish airline will fund the scholarship in 2017 and “would like to establish this scholarship as a long-term offer for young talented guitarists.”

The new scholarship was announced at the same time as the first screening, in Madrid, of a new Iberia-funded documentary that features the last guitar owned by De Lucia in the starring role. In La Guitarra Vuela, the Spanish guitar master’s instrument, known as La Maestro, literally flies as a passenger on flights to nine countries — courtesy of Iberia.

The guitar reached the hands of over a dozen musicians, including Brazilian great Caetano Veloso, flamenco guitarist Tomatito and Portuguese fado singer Mariza.

The documentary was directed by Javier Limón and Jorge Martinez.

Iberia will screen La Guitarra Vuela on its flights starting July 1.

Bledel Joins Michelle Obama to Promote Let Girls Learn Initiative

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special White House moment for Alexis Bledel…

The 34-year-old half-Argentinean American actress appears in a video with First Lady Michelle Obama, which was posted on Twitter.

It’s part of the ramp up to the return of Gilmore Girls later this year on Netflix.

Helping the First Lady promote her Let Girls Learn initiative, Bledel, in-character as Rory Gilmore, shows up to the White House to drop off a massive number of books for the initiative, treating the great classics of western literature like lazy beach reading and generally being adorably smart.

Just a couple of girls talking about books… (👻: michelleobama)https://t.co/CS48LB9fk7

— Gilmore Girls (@GilmoreGirls) June 25, 2016

Naturally, the effort on behalf of a good cause also reminds people that Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life premieres on Netflix this fall.

Martínez Iturriaga Named Executive Director at Berklee Valencia

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

María Martínez Iturriaga is ready to direct, so to speak…

The Spanish educational leader has been appointed executive director of Berklee Valencia in Spain, Berklee College of Music’s first international campus.

Iturriaga, a native of Spain, has worked at Berklee since 2008, most recently as the associate executive director and dean of admissions at Berklee Valencia. Berklee vice president of global initiatives Guillermo Cisneros previously served as the Valencia campus executive director.

“María has shown a remarkable ability to work collaboratively across areas and divisions of the college while delivering strong outcomes,” Berklee President Roger Brown said in a release from the college.

Prior to Berklee, Iturriaga worked in New York with AEA Consulting, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and New York City Center, and as a music agent on international projects.

She received her MA in performing arts administration from New York University, and has an undergraduate business administration degree from Madrid’s Autonomous University. Iturriaga also graduated from the Madrid Royal Conservatory with a degree in piano performance.

Bailon and Her “The Real” Co-Hosts Talk Education with First Lady Michelle Obama

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Adrienne Bailon is helping raise awareness for the White House’s education initiatives…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian American singer, actress, dancer and television personality and her fellow The Real co-hosts visited the nation’s capital recently to interview First Lady Michelle Obama about two student initiatives and more.

Bailon, Tamar Braxton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley’s sit-down focuses on the “Better Make Room” campaign and the first lady’s “Reach Higher” initiative, an effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by continuing their education beyond high school.

The interview, conducted on Wednesday in the East Room of the White House, will air on January 26.

“We were honored and excited to bring our show to Washington, D.C., to interview First Lady Michelle Obama,” said Rachel Miskowiec, executive producer syndicated daytime talker The Real. “The ‘Better Make Room’ campaign empowers students to pursue a ‘better’ tomorrow by taking charge of their future, which is exactly the kind of thing our hosts and viewers are passionate about.”

Lizárraga Mentors Las Vegas Students as part of Latin Grammy in the Schools Program

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Poncho Lizárraga is helping the next generation of musicians…

The 44-year-old Mexican musician and member of Banda El Recodo recently visited Rancho High School in Las Vegas to mentor aspiring musicians.

Lizárraga’s visit was part of the Latin Grammy in the Schools program — an educational initiative from the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation that offers music students the opportunity to learn about the world that surrounds the Latin music business from A-list musicians and music professionals — and included anecdotes and advice from the esteemed Banda el Recodo member.

During the same visit, Lizárraga helped present a donation from the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation with the assistance of Ford Motor Company of $20,000 that will go towards procuring instruments for the school’s music program.

The night before, Lizárraga spoke about the importance of giving back, “We’ve always looked at music as something that’s meant to be shared,” he told reporters from the press room at the MGM Grand Garden Arena after Banda el Recodo’s double win at Latin Grammys for best banda album (Mi Vicio Más Grande) and best regional Mexican song (“Todo Tuyo”).

Gonzalez Iñárritu to Lead Panel Discussion at Produced By: New York Conference

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu will school people on his process and latest project…

The 52-year-old Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker will be the featured speaker at the second Produced By: New York conference later this month.

The headlining panel, Producers’ Masterclass: An Adventurous Partnership with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, will feature the Oscar and Producers Guild Award-winning filmmaker alongside his producing team — Mary Parent, Steve Golin, and Brad Weston — as they talk about their latest film, The Revenant.

Iñárritu and his team join previously announced Tina Fey and a roster of leading industry producers and executives including Effie Brown, Bruce Cohen, Barbara Hall, John Hoffman, Navid Khonsari, Michelle King, Robert King, Michael London, Gary Lucchesi, Tom McCarthy, Lori McCreary, Lydia Dean Pilcher, Peter Saraf, Darren Star & Christine Vachon.

Discovery Communications is the presenting sponsor of PBNY, which takes place Saturday, October 24th and is hosted by Time Warner Inc. and HBO at the Time Warner Center in New York City.

Arias Alvarez Wins Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) Award

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Beatriz Arias Alvarez has earned a royal honor…

The Mexican philologist has been awarded the 2015 Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) Award for her research into Mexican colonial Spanish.

“I’m the coordinator (of the research), but it’s an award for work done by the team over a long period of time,” the expert at the Philological Research Institute at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, or UNAM, said in an interview with EFE.

Arias won the award for the compilation, organization and transcription of “Public and Private Documents of the 16th Century: Texts for the History of Mexican Colonial Spanish I.”

The research, published in 2014, is “fundamental for understanding the history of the Spanish language in the Americas,” according to the jury of the 2015 RAE Award, which comes with a cash prize of $27,900.

“I think the greatest emotion comes from the fact that the teamwork of a group of Mexicans at the UNAM has been acknowledged,” the philologist said.

“I’ve been working continuously since 2006 compiling documents,” a labor shared with students “who have contributed so much” with theses for bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees, she said

“I would never have achieved this vast scope all by myself,” Arias said, adding that the award-winning text goes deeply into subjects that have never really been studied before.

“The presence of Indian documents written in Spanish in such early times (of the conquest of Mexico) is one of the most important discoveries in the book,” the philologist said.

Arias’s candidacy was presented by the Philological Research Institute of UNAM and promoted by members of the Spanish language academies of Mexico, Peru and the United States.

Pitbull Participates in Nevada-Based SLAM! Charter School Opening

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is ready for an educational grand Slam!

The 34-year-old Cuban American rap superstar is lending his image to opening a second SLAM! charter school, this time near Las Vegas.

Pitbull, whose full name is Armando Christian Perez, attended a groundbreaking ceremony Friday in Henderson, Nevada, for the Sports Leadership and Management Academy.

The school for students hoping for careers in sports medicine, marketing, business and management is expected to open in time for the 2016 school year. Only students in grades six through nine will be eligible initially before the school expects to grow to an enrollment of 1,650 students in grades six through 12.

Pitbull was also involved when the first SLAM! school opened in Miami in 2013.

The rapper is a celebrity ambassador for the schools overseen by the SLAM Foundation. He is not a financial donor.

Sandoval Named Artistic Advisor at the Wallis Annenberg Center

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Here’s your chance to learn from living legend Arturo Sandoval…

The 65-year-old Cuban jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer is among the masters scheduled to teach at the Wallis Annenberg Center.

Sandoval, was the subject of the 2000 television film For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, starring Andy García, will serve as an artistic advisor to the Center, where he’ll teach master classes open to the public and take part in other activities on the campus.

Sandoval, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, will be joined by Broadway diva Patti LuPone and Oscar– and Tony-winning actor Denzel Washington, among others.

“We are proud to welcome five extraordinary Artistic Advisors to The Wallis for the upcoming season,” Patricia Wolff, interim artistic director, said in announcing the lineup. “These are artists who define excellence in theater, dance and music. They are not just advisors in name but will participate in the season with a focus on education.”

Sandoval’s master classes, which will be open to the public, will take place on October 27.

All events will take place in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.

Visit www.thewallis.org for information.

Iglesias to Receive Honorary Degree from Berklee College of Music

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s one degree of appreciation for Julio Iglesias…

The 71-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter, one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, will receive an honorary doctor of music degree from Berklee College of Music at the prestigious school’s commencement ceremony next month.

The recognition comes for Iglesias’ achievements and influences in music and for his enduring contributions to American and international culture, according to a press release.

Iglesias, a Grammy winner, has sold more than 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released more than 80 albums, with more than 2,600 gold and platinum records certified.

In April 2013, he was inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Other honorees this year include Sony Music Entertainment CEO Doug Morris, jazz drummer Harvey Mason and singer-songwriter Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Past honorary degree recipients include Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Smokey Robinson, Steven Tyler, Loretta Lynn, David Bowie and Duke Ellington, who was the first to receive this honor in 1971.

The ceremony will be held May 9 at the campus’ Agganis Arena.

Per Berklee’s tradition, on the eve of the commencement ceremony on May 8, students will pay tribute to the honorees by performing music associated with their careers at Agganis Arena. The concert and ceremony are not open to the public.

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