Ready, set, strum: San José Guitar Fest returns

Acclaimed Paraguayan guitarist Berta Rojas will headline the fourth San José Guitar Festival, set to take place May 17 to 21 in the Roberto Sasso Sasso Auditorium at Véritas University, in southeastern San José’s Zapote district.

Rojas is considered one of the world’s leading interpreters of works by eminent Paraguayan composer Agustín Barrios Mangoré, and will perform some of his compositions in a May 19 concert. She will also give a master class for guitarists as part of the festival.

Also on the program are award-winning Cuban guitarist Jorge Luis Zamora and 17 noted Costa Rican musicians, including the festival’s founder and director, David Coto.

Variety will be the main ingredient of the festival, Coto said in a statement, “through the fine selection of Tico artists of diverse genres and the immense quality of the two international soloists.”

Concerts will take place in the 262-seat auditorium each night at 7 p.m. The final day of the festival, May 21, will also feature an 11 a.m. concert, as well as an evening closing concert featuring all participating artists.

Tickets cost ₡5,000 ($10) for regular concerts and ₡8,000 ($16) for the closing concert, and may be reserved by calling 2234-1300. For more information about the festival and the participating musicians, visit www.sanjoseguitarra.com.