From his guitar to your ears: Mark Ferguson

You already know that Milagro's exciting 30th Birthday celebration and fundraiser is just around the corner, but have you bought your tickets yet? Hurry, space is limited!

In the meantime, read on to learn about the fantastic flamenco guitarist who will be delighting guests as we revisit the amazing history and explore the bright future of Milagro!

Mark Ferguson is clearly a man of many talents. Not only is an Assistant Professor of Spanish at Pacific University of Oregon, he is also a well-known flamenco dancer and guitarist.  He began studying the flamenco guitar in 1995 and spent two years in Spain focusing on the art of flamenco song and dance accompaniment. After he began his studies in flamenco guitar, his understanding of the importance of falsetas within the flamenco performance grew. 

Mark said, “In Spain I came to understand that the flamenco guitar exists as an accompaniment instrument, and that to be a successful flamenco guitarist means developing an intimate relationship with singing and dancing.” With this gained knowledge and skills he started sharing music with fellow flamenco musicians. He feels as though it is his duty to help pass these transcriptions on to the next generation of flamenco guitarists.

Mark held a position of flamenco guitarist at the University of New Mexico and has toured with the second company of María Benítez. He is the music director for Solo Flamenco's Arts Academy, where he teaches flamenco guitar and serves as the primary guitarist for El Cuadro Solo Flamenco. Mark performed in South Korea in 2005 with Laurena, as part of the groundbreaking fusion of flamenco and traditional Korean music. 

Overall, Ferguson is a widely accomplished musician whose talent makes anyone feel luckier for the experience. He will be performing at Milagro’s 30th birthday celebration on June 24, 2014. 

Come to see this talented artist and support a unique and amazing arts institution within the Latino community!

Tickets for the limited-capacity Cumpleaños event are still available online and over the phone at 503-236-7253. Contact Sarah for more details and info!