Performer
extraordinaire, composer and music educator, Juan De la Sierra has
delighted audiences in Europe, the Caribbean and the United States for
over three decades with his unique blend of flamenco, Middle Eastern,
classical, traditional Spanish and original compositions.
As a child
he was trained as a classical pianist. In 1960, while a student in
Spain, he began his career in the flamenco guitar. In 1966, while
living in Sevilla, he became a disciple of the world-renowned flamenco
concert guitarist José “Pepe” Martinez. In conjunction with his studies
of Andalusian (Andalusia- Southern Spain), Dr. De la Sierra became
fascinated with the Judeo-Arabic cultures that dominated that region of
Spain for 700 years. This fascination led him to study Arabic and
Sephardic music, language, and literature. He also plays the Middle
Eastern flute (ney) in the Sarasota (Florida) Middle Eastern Ensemble
which features both Arabic and Turkish repertoire.
He
is the author and performer of numerous books, recordings and articles
featuring the Spanish Musical literature from Medieval through the
contemporary compositions. Included in his publications are
¡España!, Clásico,
Duetos for Sea and Guitar and Así canta el
pueblo
(The Voice of the
People).
A life-long
educator, Dr. De la Sierra holds a Ph.D. in French Literature and Applied
Linguistics from Columbia University (New York). He has taught both music
and language in universities in Europe and the Americas since 1968. He is
currently co-director of International Productions of Sarasota, an
international dance and music production company. He currently teaches
courses on Sephardic music of the Ottoman Empire and a course on the
origins of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, entitled “Brethren of the
Desert.”
