Besides a medical degree, Dr. Ortiz's background includes studies and work
in the fields of Music Therapy and Sensory Motor Learning
in South America and the United States
(California State University-Long Beach & University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA).

Hundreds of pedal and folk harpists have attended his workshops and lectures in
Scotland, Germany, Holland, Australia, Northern Ireland, Canada, Paraguay, Japan,
Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala, Switzerland and the USA.

He has also lectured and/or offered workshops at the
Harp Week, Holland
International Folk Harp Conference
American Harp Society Conference
Soka Harp Festival, Japan
Latin American Harpists Encounters
World Harp Congress, 1983 (Holland), 1987 (Austria), 1996 (USA)
1999 (Czech Republic) & 2002 (Switzerland)

LECTURE
FOR COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES & HIGH SCHOOLS • ALL STUDENTS OR MUSIC DEPARTMENTS

"Latin America, Land of the Harp"
Among string instruments, the harp is one of the most widespread folk instruments in Latin America. It is played from Argentina and Chile all the way north to the Yaqui indians in Arizona. Originating from the Spanish harps of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the Latin American harp repertoire offers a wide variety of exciting rhythms, spectacular effects, and very beautiful and contrasting melodies and music genres. Examples of some of the most important styles, as well as concepts of history, geography, music, etc., are incorporated in this lecture/demonstration. (Duration: Minimum 45 minutes. Best: 60 minutes)

WORKSHOPS & MASTER CLASSES
FOR MUSIC DEPARTMENTS  • ALL INSTRUMENTS

Prevention of Injury & improved Learning and Performance
For teachers and students of all instruments, all levels. This lecture-demonstration will improve your awareness of various aspects of your playing, facilitate the performance of difficult passages and techniques and help prevent tendinitis. Learn good habits easier by focusing on the right aspects of your techniques. Prevent or correct bad habits.
Among the many places where this has been presented, in April, 2008,
the audience was the Guatemala National Symphony Orchestra, and on another date,
the students of the Guatemala National Music Conservatory.
(Duration: Minimum 45 minutes. Best: 90 minutes)

South American Music: Fun Rhythms for All!
For teachers and students of all instruments (and voice) all levels. A demonstration of various unique rhythms, polyrhythms and syncopations from several countries. A fun and educational multicultural experience of interest to all music departments. The material presented in this lecture-demonstration is very different from the material covered in classical music curriculum and offers a new and very enriching experience.
(Duration: Minimum 45 minutes. Best: 90 minutes)

Educational Presentation for Foreign Languages Department
Presentations with emphasis on the foreign language (Spanish) level of the students. They cover concepts of geography and history as well as vocabulary. (Duration: 45 - 60 minutes)

WORKSHOPS FOR HARP DEPARTMENTS
Specialized workshops for harp teachers and students include:

The Rhythmic Harp: Latin American Harp Rhythms and Creating Rhythmic Patterns.

Special Techniques: Mini-glissandi, Muffled Glissandi, Muffled Bass Patterns,
Trino (mandoline-like effect) and more unique techniques from the
Latin American harp traditions and his own unique techniques.

Prevention of Injury and Improved Learning and Performance:
For harp students and teachers. All levels. All types of harps.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Alfredo Rolando Ortiz offers PRIVATE LESSONS for beginners to advanced students, professionals and teachers of all folk harps as well as special lessons for teachers, professionals or students of pedal harp (All levels). Lessons take place at his studio in the city of Corona, California, or during harp conferences, festivals or workshops around the world.

Note: There is a pedal harp at his studio in Corona.

Professionals, teachers and students of pedal harp and folk harp from Canada, Japan, Scotland, Italy, Australia, Ireland and the USA, have come to Corona to study with Alfredo to add a new dimension to their teaching, technique and/or repertoire. Among them are Hirohiko Honda and Izumi Ando (Japan), Sharlene Wallace (Canada, Winner of the First Prize at the HarpFest, 1996), and Giuliana De Donno, professor of pedal and Celtic harp in Rome.

Located in Riverside County, California, Corona is one hour driving distance from the Los Angeles airport and only 20 minutes driving from the Ontario airport (California). There is a wide choice of hotels and motels.

NOTE: There is practically NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION in Southern California. If you plan to travel for lessons you should arrange for a rental car at the airport.

EDUCATIONAL VACATIONS: If you live far away from Corona, you may want to come and learn about PREVENTION OF INJURY, SPECIAL EFFECTS, THE RHYTHMIC HARP, etc., and . . . once you are here for lessons, keep in mind that:

We are 20 minutes from Disneyland, 20 minutes from Knotts Berry Farm, one hour from Universal Studios, one and a half hour from San Diego . . . Sea World . . .

and only 3 and 1/2 hours from Las Vegas!

E-mail for more information!

IMPORTANT: Due to Alfredo's international and national travel, please contact us before making travel plans for private lessons.

THEY HAVE RECORDED ALFREDO'S COMPOSITIONS:

Among pedal harpists and performers of Celtic,

Paraguayan and other folk harps that have recorded Alfredo's compositions are:

Susanne McDonald

At the time Head of the Harp Department, Juilliard School of Musicand currently
Distinguished Professor of Music and Chair, Harp Department, Indiana University School of Music, in Bloomington, Indiana, one of the largest pedal harp departments in the world.

Susanne McDonald is the Artistic Director of the World Harp Congress

Kim Robertson

Celtic harp concert artist and teacher.

Sharlene Wallace

Pedal and Celtic harp teacher and concert artist, Toronto, Canada.

Winner of the First Prize at HarpFest, 1995 (One of her three selections for the competition was "Merengue Rojo," by Alfredo Rolando Ortiz)

Hirohiko Honda

Paraguayan harp concert and recording artist, Japan

Lucía Shiomitsu

Paraguayan harp concert and recording artist and teacher, Japan

Robin Grenon

Paraguayan harp concert and recording artist, Canada

Paul Hurst

Pedal harp teacher, concert pianist and harpist and recording artist, USA

Masumi Nagasawa

Pedal harp concert and recording artist, Japan

Mika Agematsu

Paraguayan harp concert and recording artist, Japan

Dominique Piana

Pedal harpist from Belgium, concert and recording artist

Professor of Harp, Loma Linda University, California

Michael MacBean

Celtic harp concert and recording artist, USA

Cynthia Price-Glynn

Pedal Harpist, Boston Ballet. Concert and recording artist, USA

Gayle Tapper

Paraguayan harp recording artist, Canada

Carlos Murillas

Paraguayan harp recording artist, Colombia

Dr. Iván Quiceno

Tenor from Colombia. Dr. Quiceno recorded sung versions of "Si quedara sin tí" and "Nostalgias del Arauca" (also titled "Murmur of the Breeze") accompanied on harp

by the composer and author, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz.

(Would you be interested in this recording? Please send us a message)

Did you record my music and you are not listed? SORRY! Please let me know!

Photo: Master Class for Pedal Harp Teachers, The Netherlands, Otja Harpcenter.

Otja (kneeling on right, in front of Alfredo) coordinated two weeks of Alfredo’s workshops and master classes in The Netherlands which were attended by almost three hundred harpists of all levels (Pedal and lever harp). At the end of the two weeks, pedal harp students of the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music performed a concert at the Bach Concert Hall, featuring only music composed or arranged by Alfredo, including his “Venezolana for Five Pedal Harps,” (performed by ten harpists).

Three day workshop/master class. Isolabona, Italy
On the left, Giuliana de Donno, Coordinator of the event,
Pedal Harp teacher and Concert Artist from Rome.
Holding the harp: Nadia in the center, and "the two Beatrice."