The Cape Fear Arte Flamenco

the cape fear arte flamenco

The Cape Fear Arte Flamenco is made up of Mito de Soto on guitar, William “Paco” Strickland on guitar, Troy Pierce on percussion, and Tamara Saj baile. Their explosive and passionate expression of the art of flamenco is at once breathtaking, irreverent, surprising, and beautiful.

Mito de Soto, flamenco guitarist and cantaor, hails from Wilmington, NC. He has called Milwaukee, WI and Santa Fe, New Mexico home and has been recognized with “Most Original Latino Chamber Music Score Award” by the Octavio Paz Symposium. He was honored as the only graduate composer at the Latino Composers Concert, showcased in a worldwide search. Recently he was recognized by the Cape Fear magazine Encore, where he was featured in a magazine interview for his achievements in the art of flamenco, as well as jazz and fusion. Other publications throughout New Mexico, Wisconsin, and throughout the United States have recognized him for his achievements both as a musician and as a composer. He credits his influences of Paco de Lucia, Manitas de Plata, and Sabicas with shaping his artistic approach in the art of flamenco.

William “Paco” Strickland is one of North America’s foremost working Flamenco artists. Through his music and discipline, he has unlocked and mastered the secrets of an exotic and passionate art form which is traditionally guarded and known only to Spanish Gypsy families. Paco’s own passion and love of Flamenco has prompted a dedication to creating an awareness and appreciation of Flamenco Art in the Cape Fear Region. Paco hosts the internet radio show entitled “Flamenco Cafe,” the nation’s only regularly broadcasted radio program which is in limited syndication from the Atlantic Coast to the Hawaiian Islands . From 1993 to the present, he has been voted “Best Solo Artist by area media for 10 years running. He has independently produced 7 locally best selling CDs. As a writer, Paco is music editor/contributor for numerous publications, including Wilmington ’s “Encore Magazine,” “Reel Carolina Journal of Film & Video,” and “Focus on the Coast.”

The demanding schedule of Percussionist Troy Pierce has him teamed with flamenco guitarist William “Paco” Strickland, Sea Pans Steel Drum Ensemble, Loose Change, Persian classical pianist Roya Weyerhaeuser and numerous local and regional jazz ensembles. Troy has recorded and/or performed with a diverse group of accomplished artists including the Philip Hamilton Group, Kinetic Drums, John Ellis, Matthew Garrison, the As-Is Ensemble and Melva Houston, among others. Troy’s musicianship has earned him praise in media publications of Billboard Magazine, the Village Voice, and a spot on the BBC London Radio Network. His experiences include performances at such notable venues as Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center , the Blue Note and at major music festivals including the Bell Atlantic jazz festival. Troy has served on the faculty of NYU, Julliard , N.C. School of the Arts, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Barnard College , Hunter College, Wake Forest University, and Ballet Academy East where he accompanied modern dance classes. A graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, Troy studied European classical music with a focus on timpani and marimba. While at the Manhattan School of Music, he studied jazz under Bernard Purdie and John Riley. Troy teaches private lessons in Wilmington .

Tamara Saj is the founder of the Cape Fear Arte Flamenco as well as the Prairie Flamenco Company of Nebraska. She currently studies with flamenco maestro Teo Morca. She has 34 years of dance experience, including her selection to open for UPN's America's Top Model, a national presidential rally and The International Kids Golf World ChampionshipIn 2002 she performed solo for the vice president of Nicaragua Leopoldo Navarro and his delegation during a diplomatic visit to the United States. Miguelita Serratore, founder of the American Flamenco Theater in Las Vegas, has described Tamara’s performances as “Extravagant...a presence that demands to be seen.” In addition to her flamenco training, Tamara has studied classical ballet for most of her life. She has performed in operas and has toured across the United States and Japan.

For more information on Mito, please check out www.sotodelbarcomusic.com. For more information on Paco Strickland and Troy Pierce, please check out www.pacostrickland.com.