Latin Fusion Celebration!

Juan Pablo Andrade, a prominent Costa Rican pianist, enjoys a dynamic presence both on stage and in the academic realm. Recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Costa Rican National Prize of Music— the highest honor bestowed upon a musician by the Costa Rican Ministry of Culture. He has also received top honors at international competitions like the Artlivre International Piano Competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the Carlos Enrique Vargas National Piano Competition in Costa Rica. With a performance schedule that spans several continents, Andrade has played as a soloist with various orchestras. He is also a familiar face with the Costa Rican National Symphony.  His recital tours have taken him through the Americas and Europe, with standout performances at the Yehudi Menuhin Forum in Bern, Switzerland, the World Piano Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia, and a solo recital tour in South America. His CD “War to Peace” with violinist Betul Soykan, has been warmly received by critics, including a notable review in Fanfare magazine. In the academic realm, Andrade serves as a Professor of Piano at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he brings his rich performance experiences into the classroom. His commitment to music education extends beyond his university role, frequently serving as a guest faculty at international festivals and founding the La Frontera International Piano Conference in Brownsville, Texas. This event underscores his passion for enriching the cultural tapestry of the region and providing platforms for musical exchange.

Linda Chávez is a distinguished Mexican-American pianist. She holds degrees from the University of Texas at Brownsville and Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A laureate of an impressive array of awards, grants, and scholarships, Miss Chávez has crafted a career that epitomizes excellence in both performance and education. Her talents have garnered her coveted invitations to international festivals as diverse as Costa Rica, Italy, Aruba, Austria, Puerto Rico, and Lincoln Center in New York City. Currently, Ms. Chávez is the principal pianist for the Valley Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she is the visionary founder and enthusiastic proprietor of the Brownsville Piano Studio, South Texas’ premiere institution dedicated to piano education. Under her guidance, the studio provides instruction to over 225 students each week. Her entrepreneurial spirit also led to the creation of Ananda Music Experience, an innovative online music program tailored for adult women who aspire to learn music in a mindful and enriching environment.  Linda Chávez continues to inspire and make a profound impact in the world of music; fostering positive change through music is a hallmark of her distinguished career.

Yam Beat is a versatile musical ensemble featuring soprano Yamel Kuri alongside musicians Erich Alexis, Carlos Castro, David Marcos, and Samira Aguilera. Their performances span a wide range of genres—from classical to popular music—seamlessly blending cultural heritage with strong academic training.

Yamel and Erich, both from Tijuana, first met in 2016 and soon joined forces to pursue a professional career in music. Over the years, they have performed at social events and appeared in numerous regional festivals. In 2024, the ensemble expanded with the addition of Carlos, David, and Samira, musicians originally from Cuba, whose exceptional artistry added new depth and richness to the project.

Today, in addition to their work at social events, Yam Beat presents elegant candlelight tribute concerts and has developed Yam Beat Cinema—a unique live experience in which classic films are screened and performed live by the ensemble. Their repertoire includes Cinema Paradiso, The Bodyguard, Flashdance, and Amélie.

The Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet is widely acknowledged as one of the most compelling tango ensembles today, moving forward from the giant footsteps of Astor Piazzolla, and continuing to take this musical genre into new territories. With immense respect for its roots and rich musical past, the ensemble effectively serves as an active ambassador of tango and a proponent of its evolution. The quartet’s fervent and virtuosic musical style takes elements from Argentine tango, European classical music, and American jazz, and combines them gracefully and organically, bringing something new and exciting to the form while retaining all the lushness and beauty that characterizes the genre.

Emiliano Messiez is a Latin Grammy–nominated pianist and composer from Buenos Aires, Argentina, now based in New York City. Renowned for his distinctive sound and versatility, he seamlessly blends tango, jazz, classical, rock, and Latin American rhythms. Emiliano is the founder and director of Típica Messiez, a 10-piece tango orchestra, and the pianist of the Romo-Agri-Messiez Trio. In addition to composing several musicals, he has written original music for his own projects, recording multiple albums that showcase his unique artistic vision. His performances have captivated audiences worldwide, with highlights including appearances at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Carnegie Hall Citywide series.

Irma Sofía Poeter was born in Arcadia, California, in 1963 to an American father and a Mexican mother. She has lived on both sides of the Tijuana-San Diego border and currently resides in Tecate, Mexico, and San Diego, California. A multidisciplinary and self-taught artist, she works with textiles, painting, photography, architecture, and performance. Her artistic development, spanning over 30 years, has been through practice and participation in workshops, seminars, diploma programs, and artist residencies in Mexico and abroad. She won the San Diego Art Prize and the Baja California State Fund for Culture and the Arts Scholarship and was a founding member of Grupo Martes (Women in the Arts) in Tijuana. With over 30 years of experience, she has had more than 20 solo exhibitions and a 25-year retrospective of her artistic career in 2019-2020. This retrospective was presented simultaneously at the Tijuana Cultural Center and The Front Art and Culture in San Ysidro, California. In 2009, she presented a solo exhibition at the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, Mexico. During her stay in Oaxaca, she was known as Eduardo Poeter, a stage name she used as a performance piece during her time there. She has participated in national and international group presentations in the United States, Cuba, England, Poland, and Italy.