Search - Alejandro Velasco, Cristina Montero, Irasema Terrazas :: Kavindu: Ah

Alejandro Velasco Sotomayor was born in Mexico City in 1956. In 2001 he became a member of the Western Buddhist Order and now uses his ordination name Kavindu, meaning "moon of poet and sages". He graduated in composition from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. After several years of writing for the stage in the U.S. and Mexico he founded Arcana Ensemble Acustico, a quintet of piano, marimba, percussion, flute, sax, and cello. They have toured the U.S., Mexico, and South America interpreting Kavindu?s music. Since 1990 he has taught in Mexico City, and made several recordings. Seven of the nine pieces on this CD began life as a commission in 2003 from choreographer and arts patron Isabel Beteta for a ballet based on the tarot cards entitled In the Hands of Destiny. Later, Kavindu added two more songs especially for soprano Irasema Terrazas to include on this album. Terrazas is one of Mexico?s leading female vocalists and has sung under distinguished orchestra conductors as a guest soloist in Mexico?s main orchestras. Cristina Montero Roura began studying piano at an early age. Even as a child she was performing in concert halls, often playing her own compositions. She graduated with honors from the National School of Music (Mexico) in 2001 and has since performed in numerous concerts as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles, interpreting classical repertoire and contemporary music. Currently she is principal pianist with the Carlos Chavez Symphony Orchestra and a member of the piano faculty at the National School of Music.