Music Education Ambassador

To further its interests in cultural exchange, music, and children’s education, ProtoStar made a $10,000 grant to support the work of Pablo Sáinz Villegas as the first Education Ambassador for the La Jolla Music Society (“LJMS”).  Mr. Sáinz Villegas is a world-renowned classical guitarist from Spain.  This Program is a new project in LJMS’s Community Music Center, which ProtoStar also supports.

Education Ambassador Program

As part of the educational initiatives offered through its Community Music Center, LJMS is piloting the Education Ambassador Program.  It began in December 2019 and will continue through May 2020.  The Program is divided into four segments:  December 3-7, 2019; February 16-21, 2020; March 5-7, 2020; and May 3-6, 2020.  During each of those segments, the Education Ambassador will give performances at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla, California.  He will also lead seminars and general assemblies at various local schools and community venues, ranging from 40- to 90-minute sessions depending on the musical level of the students.  There will be a total of 9 assemblies and 3 concert performances.

Pablo Sáinz Villegas

Pablo Sáinz Villegas’s virtuosity, technique, and musicality make him the perfect Education Ambassador for this Program.

Praised as “The Soul of the Spanish Guitar,” Pablo Sáinz Villegas has become a worldwide sensation known as this generation’s great guitarist.  Since his early debut with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center, he has become the world’s reference for the symphonic guitar.  His “virtuosic playing characterized by irresistible exuberance” (The New York Times) makes him one of the most acclaimed soloists by prestigious conductors, orchestras, and festivals.  Billboard Magazine recently named Sáinz Villegas “the global ambassador of Spanish guitar” after his solo album, Americano, made its debut to the top 15 on their charts.  A passionate promoter of the development of new repertoire for Spanish classical guitar, Sáinz Villegas has made numerous world premieres including Rounds, by five-time Academy Award-winner John Williams.  Over the years, he accomplished [a] collection of over 30 international awards, including the Segovia award, which he won at age 15, and the coveted Gold Medal at the Inaugural Parkening International Guitar Competition.

LJMS’s Community Music Center

LJMS’s Community Music Center is geared towards educating K-12 students from low- to moderate-income families by providing them with hands-on music instruction, musical instruments, and performance opportunities – all free of charge.  Such free musical education to children from low- to moderate-income families is particularly needed at a time when music programs in public schools are diminishing, if not being eliminated altogether, and school districts are forced to cut their budgets.

ProtoStar’s Interests

There are several features of this Program that are appealing to ProtoStar.  First, as a native of Spain, Mr. Sáinz Villegas could converse with the students in Spanish, as many of the schools in the San Diego area have Hispanic students.  Second, having Mr. Sáinz Villegas as the Education Ambassador furthers ProtoStar’s desire to support projects that have an international flavor and promote cultural exchange.  Finally, supporting this Program falls within ProtoStar’s stated Areas of Interest, including:  (1) Children’s Education; (2) Music, Arts, and Culture; and (3) Social Justice.