| Marija Temo, described as a “triple threat”, is widely recognized as a virtuoso
classical/flamenco guitarist, flamenco vocalist and dancer, and conductor. She actively performs as a
soloist with symphony orchestras, in
guitar concert series and festivals, and as a flamenco singer/guitar accompanist for flamenco dancers and companies. She has performed in many special projects utilizing her talents, has performed for many dignitaries and with highly acclaimed artists, and has also received several awards. In addition to her versatile performance
career, she is known for her
teaching methods, educational
programs, and workshops.
Marija Temo plays a “Marija Temo” Model flamenco/classical hybrid TM, which she designed with luthier Tom
Rodriguez. Ms. Temo has also received
the endorsement of D’Addario Strings. In March of 2008, she premiered “Tango Fantasy”,
the second work written for Ms. Temo by Loris Chobanian for guitar and
orchestra. A composition that explores the characteristic qualities of Flamenco, the Argentinean Tango, and the Middle East.
Ms.
Temo is a former faculty member of the Preparatory of the Peabody
Institute, Johns Hopkins University, where she founded the Flamenco Guitar Program. She
received her Masters degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, studying under Manuel
Barrueco, and her
Bachelors degree from the Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music,
studying under Loris Chobanian. Ms Temo has taken master classes from
many great artists, such as Paco Jarana, El Viejin, and Pedro Cortez,
but intensive studies with teachers that have had significant influence
include: Marta del Cid,
Bruce Catalano, Sophie Ginn-Paster, Teo Morca,
and Manolo Leiva. For more information on Marija Temo, see http://marijatemo.com. Symphony
orchestra highlights include: Chobanian’s
“Concierto del Fuego”, a guitar concerto written for Ms. Temo in the flamenco
style; Lecuona’s “Malaguena”, which she performed and arranged (for orchestra,
flamenco guitar, voice, and dance); “Multi-Talented Marija”, a Spanish program
that she devised for Children’s Series, showcasing all her talents, including
conducting, and involving elaborate audience participation; Falla’s “El Amor
Brujo”, which she has frequently performed (as a featured flamenco vocalist
and/or dancer); Falla’s “Canciones Populares”, which she performed and arranged
(for orchestra, flamenco guitar, and voice); and several performances of Joaquin
Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez”. Ms.
Temo has appeared in Pops, Children’s, and/or Main Series programs with the
Baltimore Symphony (with whom she has been a regular performer for their Youth
Series, having appeared in more than 16 concerts), and orchestras such as the
Calgary, Edmonton, Florida, Alexandria, Hilton Head, and Ocean City Pops
Symphonies.
Solo
concert highlights, involving Ms. Temo’s programs of classical/flamenco guitar and voice,
and sometimes an additional flamenco dancer, have been featured in several
guitar festivals and music and guitar series in the US and abroad. These have included: the First World Guitar Congress (where she
was also a guest speaker in a symposium with David Russell and Tuck and Patti),
Towson, MD; the Blossom Music Festival, Cleveland, OH; LMU Guitar Festival, Los
Angeles, CA; the Baltimore, Connecticut, Calgary, St. Louis, and GSFA Classical
Guitar Society Series (Pittsburgh, PA); and the Theatre at Washington, VA
(where she shared the stage with Gene Bertoncini and Frank Vignola).
Special projects featuring Ms. Temo include: “Fuego Ibérico”, a flamenco musical set in
cabaret style and centered around Ms. Temo’s talents, in which arrangements of
Lecuona’s orchestral music are blended with pure flamenco; Falla’s “El Amor
Brujo”, which she performed and arranged (for violin, piano, flamenco guitar
and voice); Lorca’s “Blood Wedding”, a production for which she composed,
arranged, and performed the music; a Latin festival, where she performed her
flamenco/pop crossover music as opener for La India; “Flamenco and Lorca”, a
program of poetry with flamenco guitar, voice, and dance accompaniment; Lorca’s
“Yerma”, for which she composed and recorded vocal music; her performances as
guest accompanist with the Alberta and Cleveland Ballet Companies; and feature
presentations showcasing Ms. Temo’s talents on Public TV in Ohio and Maryland.
Special
educational programs, master classes, positions and degrees:
“Flamenco
Amazement” is a program created by Ms. Temo for children and adults in
which she demonstrates all her talents and includes active audience
participation. It has been presented in
venues such as the Backyard Theatre at Strathmore Hall, Bethesda, MD; the
Harmony Hall Concert Series, Fort Washington, MD; the Prince George’s County
Libraries; Westminster College, MD; and in the US and abroad.
“Flamenco
Communication” is a class created by Ms. Temo that explores what is
required from flamenco guitarists, singers, and dancers to effectively communicate/interact, accompany,
compliment, and improvise with one another through a breakdown on the structure of flamenco
dance and song forms. It was featured
for 10 years in the International Festival Flamenco at the University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, and reviewed in magazines such as Flamenco USA, Flamenco International (London, England), and Dance Magazine, and is greatly in demand in the US and
abroad. In addition, Ms. Temo has
offered numerous classical/flamenco-guitar and flamenco-voice master
classes.
Award highlights include: a Citation from the Governor of the State of
Maryland in honor of her being selected for the 2000 Maryland State Arts
Council’s “Individual Artist Award in Solo Instrumental Performance”; an
“Alumni - Achievement Award” from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of
Music; an induction into the Revere High School “Hall of Fame”, together with a
music award named after her and entitled, “The Marija Temo Award”.
She has performed for dignitaries such as: the former Spanish Ambassador, Don Jaime de
Ojeda; the Crown Prince of Spain; former Vice President Al Gore; the Russian
Ambassador to the US; the Princess of Thailand; and eminent dancer Jose
Greco.
She has performed with artists
such as: Lola and Carmela Greco, Teo
Morca (with whom she has worked extensively and was invited to represent the US in the first Flamenco Festival in Tateyama, Japan),
Manolo Leiva, Sara de Luis, Juan Serrano, Paco Peña, Oscar López, Antonio
Vargas, Manolo Segura, Jose Fernandez, La Conja, Jesus Montoya, and Carlota
Santana. For workshops, she has accompanied artists such as La Tati and La Farruquita.
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