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Julio Reyes, [email protected]
He has golden hands Laurendo Almeida, renowned Brazilian
guitarist
Julio was gifted at an early age with a fine-tuned musical ear.
At age 5, Julio sat in onone of the guitar lessons his father was
giving at their home. After seeing that his son
was able to distinguish between his students mistakes and
accomplishments, hetaught him a Paraguayan piece on a small harp,
which he played for his mother thatafternoon when she got home from
her job as a seamstress. His father, Carlos, was aformer Musical
Diplomat for his native Paraguay, South America. He studied
withDionicio Basualdo, who was a protg of Agustin Barrios. Julios
mother, Carmen, wasfrom Colombia, South America where she sang on
the radio and acted in an improv.troupe. After her son played the
harp for her, she told her husband to teach him guitarsince that
was his fort. He first learned to play by watching his father play
a fewmeasures on a guitar and then repeat what he played on the
smaller guitar his fathergave him. This process continued while his
father taught him how to read music.
He gave his first recital at the age of 12 and the following
year, was an award winner
at the International Agustin Barrios Guitar Competition in
Mexico City where theaverage age of his competitors was at least 20
years his senior! Also, by then he hadcommenced studies in piano,
cello, voice, music theory and conducting at the SummerMusic
Program at the University of California at Berkeley, and had won
the MartinLuther King, Jr. Music Competition on cello and
guitar.
At age 14 at the invitation of the Paraguayan government, he
traveled to SouthAmerica to perform guitar recitals on radio and TV
and was a guest artist at the AnnualIndependence Day festivities at
the Municipal Soccer Stadium performing for over80,000
attendees.
During his senior year of high school, he performed Joaquin
Rodrigos Concierto de
Aranjuezwith the late Calvin Simmons and the Oakland Symphony
Orchestra and wasalso a soloist with the Young Peoples Symphony
Orchestra in Berkeley. The followingyear he received a scholarship
to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where hestudied with
George Sakellariou and David Tannenbaum.
By 1986 he continued his conducting studies with maestros Kent
Nagano, RichardBuckley and Dr. Dennis DeCoteau, became principal
cellist of the Oakland SymphonyYouth Orchestra and had toured with
them internationally as both cellist and guitarsoloist. He was
ultimately appointed Assistant Conductor to its then-Music
Director,Kent Nagano. He conducted OSYO in Pops Concerts throughout
the Bay Area and wasMusic Director for Oakland Summer Theatres
productions ofThe Wizand Kiss Me Kate
Entering his 20s, Julio began a second career as instructor of
cello, classical guitar,bass and music theory, teaching at both
Meadowood Music Camp and El Cerrito HighSchool, the latter at which
he was appointed String Specialist and OrchestraConductor. Julio
feels very strongly that music should be an integral part of a
childseducation from elementary through high school. Music is the
perfect vehicle forexpanding a childs imagination and tapping into
their self-esteem. Working withothers towards a common goal,
listening in a team-oriented atmosphere, buildingrelationships
which can last a lifetime, and processing their emotions in a
healthy andsafe environment are just some of the by-products of a
childs experience in musicwhen they have a good teacher.
Keeping busy during the new millennium, he performs around the
San Francisco BayArea; is working on a master class presentation on
the music of Agustn Barrios;
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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produced a classical guitar CD, Heart Strings; and conducted the
American opera, FayYen Fah, with LOrquesta DSolis, the official
orchestra for Prince Albert II of Monacoand soloists from the
United States in the Monte Carlo Opera House.
Wedding bells rang for Julio and his bride, Carol DeChaine, on
October 10, 2010 andthey now live in Hayward, California. He is
also very proud to be a board member ofthe Young Musicians Program,
formerly the Summer Music Program at U.C. Berkeley.
