Coffee Shop Performances, Coffee-infused Repertoire
What would you choose for a performance at a coffee shop? You would do well with a set list including an arrangement of the Coffee Cantata by JS Bach, and the Kaffee Klatch by Joseph Haydn. These were recently on the musical menu at the Nomadas Bistro coffee shop in Cuenca, Ecuador.
The performers were Jhomayra Cevallos (violin) and Julio Peralta (viola); they were joined by the guitarist Chris Conseco for an additional piece, “Ojala que Llueva Cafe” (I hope it rains coffee).
Jhomayra is a member of the Cuenca Symphony and will be touring Italy this summer with a program of Andean folk music. Julio Peralta is also a member of the Cuenca Symphony and is the musical leader of Afro-Esmeraldas, which specializes in music from the coast of Ecuador. Chris is a guitarist from the Cuenca music scene.
The coffee repertoire was such a good idea, that the idea spread. ACMP member Tom Cappaert mentioned the Cuenca event to his online students in Spain; Isa and Sofia Zabala (cello, violin) hunted for a venue, and were surprised to find several coffee shops eager to host. They settled on the Sabi Matcha coffee house in Granada. Angel, the barista happily rearranged the seating to accommodate the event; after the performance, Angel asked the sisters: when can you return? The only thing missing was an appearance by Bach or Haydn.
Isa (18) and Sofia (20) began learning music as pre-schoolers, training in the highly successful the El Sistema program in Venezuela. Their next chapter was in Ecuador, as players in the Renaissance Symphony in Ecuador before finally arriving in Spain. The Sabi Matcha performance was the first ACMP event for Isa and Sofia, and they were absolutely delighted to play for the small crowd that came to see them. They are now in contact with other ACMP members in Europe,and hope to play more chamber music with new friends as they start their college years.
Link to 30 sec video of Nomadas Bistro performance
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