Alirio Diaz

Alirio Diaz is a classical guitarist. (Born November 12, 1923 - in Venezuela)

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Classical guitarist - November 12 - 1923 - Venezuela

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The eighth of eleven children, he was born at Caserio La Candelaria, a small village near Carora in western Venezuela. From childhood he showed great interest in music. Aged 16 he ran away from home to Carora, where he went to school. He later went to Trujillo, in the Venezuelan Andes and studied both the saxophone and clarinet under Laudelino Mejias while working as a typesetter in a newspaper. He also studied English and typewriting before going to Caracas in 1945 to study the guitar at the Escuela Superior de Musica José Angel Lamas under Raul Borges.

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Trujillo - Laudelino Mejias - Caracas - Raul Borges

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In 1950 the Venezuelan Government awarded him a scholarship to continue his guitar studies in Madrid, Spain under Regino Sainz de la Maza. In the same year he performed his first guitar concert in Europe. In 1951 he went to Sienna, Italy in search of Andres Segovia. Here he impresses Segovia with his flawless technique and extensive repertoire. Three years later, he became the assistant and substitute to Segovia and started performing in some of the most prestigious concert halls in Europe.

Related Topics:
Madrid - Sienna - Andres Segovia

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Alirio Diaz has performed all over the world and combines baroque music with modern Latin American composers, such as Lauro, Sojo and Mangoré. He currently teaches in Rome and performs in concert with his son Senio. During the European winter, he lives in his natal town, La Candelaria.

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