PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Pro Arte Musical, Inc.
Communications and Development
Phone: (787) 722-3366 / (787) 436-3655
Email: proarte@proartemusical.com
Pro Arte Musical’s New Virtuosos Fili Gil 2025 Concert Series
presents Puerto Rican classical guitarist:
LEONELA ALEJANDRO IN CONCERT
San Juan, Puerto Rico / May 3, 2025 – Pro Arte Musical presents Puerto Rican classical guitarist Leonela Alejandro in the New Virtuosos Concert Series, on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., in the Jesús María Sanromá Hall of the Bertita and Guillermo L. Martínez Theater of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music in Miramar.
Winner of the Guitar Foundation of America’s prestigious 2024 Rose Augustine Grand Prize, Leonela Alejandro is an outstanding Puerto Rican classical guitarist who has captivated audiences with her powerful and energetic performance style.
From a young age, Leonela knew the guitar was her passion, beginning her formal musical education at the age of seven. At just 16, she was admitted to the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, where she had the privilege of studying with renowned maestro Iván Rijos. After two years of intensive training at the Conservatory, she transferred to the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee in 2018, where in 2020 she completed her bachelor’s degree under the tutelage of Cuban virtuoso maestro René Izquierdo. Leonela recently completed her master’s degree at Columbus State University in Georgia, under the direction of Dr. Andrew Zohn.
“At Pro Arte Musical, we have institutionalized the New Virtuosos program as a platform to support young Puerto Rican musicians who are leaving a mark of excellence internationally. Leonela has conquered the world of classical guitar, and we are extremely proud to support her emerging career,” said Karen Schneck Malaret, executive director of Puerto Rico’s longest-running musical arts promotion organization.
“For me, the guitar is a very intimate instrument of communication that allows me to express my vulnerability. My playing style is very intuitive and also feeds off the energy of the audience in the room,” comments the young virtuoso. “Collaborating with Pro Arte Musical is a dream come true because since I was little, I have seen and admired how they always support young people in music. In this concert, I want to convey my sensitivity, inviting the audience to join me on this musical journey around the world,” says Leonela about her upcoming concert, whose repertoire will include pieces such as Coco de Alagoas and Um Amor de Valsa by Brazilian composer and guitarist Paulo Bellinati. Appassionata by Puerto Rican composer Rolando Miranda; Equinox by Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu; and Variations on a Theme from Django Reinhardt by Leo Brouwer, among other complex and celebrated pieces from the classical guitar catalog.
Leonela Alejandro has participated in several competitions, earning first place at the Louisville Guitar Festival, the Appalachian State Guitar Festival, the Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, the Indiana Guitar Festival, and the Chicago Guitar Festival, among other important competitions in the United States. She has also won awards in international competitions, including Le Domaine Forget de Charlevoix in Canada, the Ciudad de Coria International Guitar Competition in Spain, the José Tomás Villa International Guitar Competition in Petrer in Spain, and the Iserlohn International Guitar Competition in Germany. Beyond her impressive track record in international competitions, Leonela has established herself as a soloist on orchestral stages and has been invited to perform at numerous venues, both in the United States and Europe, where she continues to make a strong impact with her artistry.
“We are proud to see talents like Leonela shine around the world, and we are honored to be able to support her brilliant artistic career here at home,” added Myrna Rivera Cardona, President of the Board of Directors of Pro Arte Musical. “In this and the upcoming concerts of the 2025 Season, we want to especially highlight the virtuosity of Puerto Rican women in music, who are increasingly making inroads in this field, although their presence on stage is still limited. At Pro Arte Musical, we are very aware of this reality and reaffirm our commitment to supporting and promoting female talent in the music scene, fostering equality and the presence of women on the country’s stages,” Rivera emphasized.
Since 1992, Pro Arte Musical has held the New Virtuosos concert series annually in honor of the organization’s former director, Fili G. Gil, to celebrate the achievements and talent of young musicians and performers who are just beginning to emerge on the international music scene. The goal of the New Virtuosos series is to highlight the virtuosity of these young talents, serving as an example of discipline and success for those seeking a career in music, a highly competitive and challenging profession.
To purchase tickets for Leonela Alejandro’s live concert in Puerto Rico, visit Ticketera’s online box office. For additional information about Pro Arte Musical’s 2025 concert season, please call (787) 722-3366 or email proarte@proartemusical.com.
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* Photographs by Leonela Alejandro: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bAMjFoxsmmfOSERjiTT3Tm6s3Tft_R5i?usp=sharing
* Leonela Alejandro’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leonelaalejandro
About Pro Arte Musical
Pro Arte Musical is the oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and dissemination of classical music in Puerto Rico. Founded in 1932, with renowned pianist Elisa Tavárez as its first president, Pro Arte Musical has tirelessly promoted cultural development in the country. For 92 years, the organization has cultivated a love for the classical repertoire and excellence, promoting access to chamber music, opera, and other classical genres, while contributing excellence to Puerto Rico’s cultural scene by presenting virtuoso exponents of jazz, world music, and dance in major concert halls. Pro Arte Musical’s mission also extends to youth, offering educational programs focused on their musical and artistic development.
Media Contact:
Claudia Aponte, Lic. R-20
Public Relations
Mobile: (787) 525-6713