LUBBOCK Martin Camacho is currently in his first year as the dean of the J.T. and Margaret Talkington College of Visual and Performing Arts at Texas Tech University.
He’ll get to have his Lubbock debut performance with “An Evening of Latin and American Piano Music” at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Hemmle Hall at the School of Music.
Camacho comes to Texas Tech having previously served as the dean of the Fain College of Fine Arts at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.
“This is an amazing opportunity,” Camacho said. “Texas Tech is one of the leading institutions in the arts in both the state and nationally. This institution commands respect and a high tradition. We have thousands of alumni in the arts, theater and dance and are very proud of the institution. … I think just having the opportunity to lead a college and help the faculty and staff into its next stage in history is just a unique opportunity. I couldn’t be more excited about it.”
Camacho is a renowned pianist and combines his passion for administration with his artistic activities.
His free public debut concert Monday will be filled with pieces from his Latin background and the musical styles include Cuban dance, Argentinean tango and Mexico danzon.
“In this concert, I feel it’s a program for all Latin American music,” Camacho said. “I debated what I should play first. One of my passions is Latin American music which I have devoted a big chunk of my life. I’ve made it my mission to spread the music throughout the United States and the world in some capacity. I thought that having that signature coming to Texas Tech would be a great opportunity to share my repertoire with the community and staff here and students.”
Camacho said the program will begin with a very well-known piece by the Mexican composer Manuel Ponce called “Balada Mexicana.”
“It’s one of the staple pieces for Mexican music for piano repertoire,” Camacho said.
That will then follow with piece called “The Cuban Dances” by Mario Ruiz Armengol.
“Those are neat pieces because they incorporate lots of different music styles ranging from jazz to classical Mexican music,” Camacho said. “It’s all mixed up, and it’s really fun. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. Those are really nice and fun.”
The event will feature special guests including Latin Grammy-nominated pianist Adonis Gonzales and Fabio Augustinis, assistant professor of practices in commercial music and jazz studies.
Gonzales “is a Cuban origin pianist that I’ve known for the last 33 years or so,” Camacho said. “We’re going to play a tango for two pianos called ‘Le Grande Tango’ (by Astor Piazzolla).”
They will close out the concert with a piece by Mexican composer Arturo Marquez called “Danzon No. 2.”
“That’s one of his most famous pieces,” Camacho said. “He’s become a well-known composer around concert halls in the world. That is a signature orchestral piece. This is a two-piano format of it.”
Augustinis will provide percussion to the last piece.
“He’s a fantastic drummer,” Camacho said.
If you go
- What: Latin American Piano Works.
- Where: Hemmle Hall at the Texas Tech School of Music in Lubbock.
- When: 7:30 p.m. Monday.
- Admission: Free.
