Pedro Cortés
Mr. Cortes comes from a family of Spanish Gypsy guitarists and began his studies with his father and the esteemed Flamenco guitarist Sabicas. Having toured professionally since the age of 17, he is gaining international recognition as a soloist and composer. He has premiered his work En la oscuridad de las minas at the Teatro Albeniz in Madrid, and in 1992 he had works premiered by the Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Company at the Joyce Theater in New York. He has two books on Flamenco, El Dron del Faraón and Cruzando el Charco, published by the American Institute of Guitar.

Mr. Cortes, was commissioned by Zorongo Flamenco to write a score for a dance drama called Garden of Names which was inspired by the novel of Lawrence Thornton’s called “Imagining Argentina.” He also wrote music for a childrens program on HBO called Fairy tale for Every Child. He has toured with José Greco and María Benítez, and has performed with such artists as Farruquita, La Tati, Merche Esmeralda, Manolete and the late Lola Flores.

He has been guest artist with the St. Louis Opera and the New York Grand Opera, and has been commissioned by and performed as Musical Director with the Guthrie Theater In García Lorcás bodas de sangre. Mr. Cortés is artistic director of his own Flamenco Fusion group Amanecer Flamenco De Hoy, and also Musical Director of Mimbre Y Vareta, Zorongo Flamenco, Flamenco Y Mas and María Benítez Estampa Flamenca. Cortes is a third generation Flamenco guitarists and uses the experience passed down to him by his family to maintain the purity of Flamenco while creating new compositions.