{"id":291898,"date":"2023-11-20T12:59:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T17:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=291898"},"modified":"2023-11-20T13:06:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T18:06:20","slug":"rodrigo-garcia-the-boy-who-quit-baseball-for-the-piano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/culture\/music-culture\/rodrigo-garcia-the-boy-who-quit-baseball-for-the-piano\/","title":{"rendered":"Rodrigo Garc\u00eda, the boy who quit baseball for the piano"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heir to a rich artistic tradition, refined musical taste and great virtuosity in playing the piano, Rodrigo Garc\u00eda Ameneiro is seen as one of the young talents of contemporary Cuban piano music.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite his young age (he is only 18 years old), he is a composer, arranger and producer. In his childhood, he had to choose between his two passions: baseball and music. \u201cSince I was little I played third base on the Plaza municipality team, where I participated in several competitions and tournaments when I was 6 and 7. Around that same time, I had the opportunity to take the music school tests; they told me that I had conditions and I decided that music would be the way, although I am still a fan of team sports.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rodrigo Garc\u00eda Ameneiro. Photo: Artist\u2019s Facebook page.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Son of the singer Rochy Ameneiro and the music producer Josu\u00e9 Garc\u00eda, Rodrigo\u2019s home environment helped him opt for the arts, with discipline and perseverance. \u201cMy parents did not put pressure on my decision to pursue art. I got carried away by the musical atmosphere of my house.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Manuel Saumell Conservatory, together with his teacher Hortensia Upmann, he began to study music, then he went to the Amadeo Rold\u00e1n Conservatory under the aegis of Aldo L\u00f3pez-Gavil\u00e1n and became a piano professional at the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) in 2022, with the help of his teacher Liana Fern\u00e1ndez.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thank all the teachers who participated in my training, friends, and beloved musicians of whom I have fond memories. My teachers have inspired me on this arduous path and in this career of so much sacrifice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rodrigo Garc\u00eda Ameneiro. Photo: Artist\u2019s Facebook page.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In collaboration with his mother, Rodrigo Garc\u00eda is producing the musical production of the children\u2019s album <\/span>Cancioncita para ti<\/span><\/i>. \u201cI must thank her for how much I owe her. Working with her on her CD was a challenge; I was able to do the production and arrangements. I always take my work very seriously and try to do it at the highest level. I have been in charge of other record productions as an arranger and composer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With almost seven years on the Cuban music scene, the band Ceda el Paso continues to captivate the public and form new artists. \u201cIt has been a gift. It has given me a lot of joy and I have learned from everyone. We are a group of friends who have seen each other grow in art, each one from their creative horizons contributes to the development of the group and the repertoire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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With violinist Tania Haase. Photo: Artist\u2019s Facebook page.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The laurels achieved in his short but prolific artistic work encourage him to continue striving. \u201cMusic contests are a means to learn and prepare to continue growing. They constitute a meter to know what level you are at and what you want to reach. It has been a pleasant experience to have been in different national and international competitions. Each one has their value; I have learned from all of them and they have helped me to continue growing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another of his projects is the D\u00fao Espiral, created eight years ago with the violinist Tania Haase. \u201cIt is a project that has taught us a lot as a couple and musicians; we are happy to continue playing, learning and getting to know each other in another way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n