For many years I am trying to answer this singular question...

On one occasion, in one of many meetings - vocational, motivational, etc., retreats; I've done since the beginning of my Youth - someone, I do not remember, asked me that question: "WHO ARE YOU? "; and I, then (without hesitation) replied: "My name is Gregory Ortiz " ; to which this person replied: "I did not ask your name , I asked WHO ARE YOU? " .

And since then, that (seemingly silly, innocent and simple) asks, is circling in my head ...

Según el Diccionario Panhispánico de Dudas (DPD©2005) de la Real Academia Española (RAE): "SER es el verbo copulativo por excelencia y su función es la de afirmar del sujeto lo que significa el atributo: Luisa es alta; Su padre es médico; Soy de Madrid."

Taking into account the aforementioned, it is enough for me to say that "BE" is the set of things that characterize the individual, but even more, I feel that the BEING is that accumulated experience of everything you can do, from the beginning of your life and up to the present, each and every one of the experiences make "your essence" , that which governs the rhythm of your emotions ... ( yes, and only if , you are able to let yourself be guided by them).

I begin then to narrate short fragments of my BEING, saying first of all that I am a young Venezuelan, I am 35 years old and that I AM MUSICIAN.

PREMONITION, I do not know!

Since I was little I started, without knowing that I would dedicate myself to this in the future, to make music; in this particular I stop to mention that (due to a musical performance that we made for the opening) in my Act of Promotion of Kinder-Garden level to my 6 years of age, I wore the typical clothing of people who sing and dance Folk Music in my region Lara-Venezuela.

It is possible that AT THIS MOMENT and without realizing it, my artistic-musical career has begun .

Surely we have heard the phrase many times: "You must hear your heart" , but ... What is that sentence about?

I never knew if it was my heart that spoke to me, but since I was little and throughout my life, I've been dedicated to studying The Music

A CHILDHOOD, rare

I must say that I WAS VERY HAPPY, my childhood was spent happily in the company of my loved ones who ALWAYS supported and encouraged me in this way of art, I had the opportunity to study at the renowned "Cuatros y mas Cuatros" Music Academy where I was trained as "CUATRISTA" for the best Teacher of "EL Cuatro" all time, Master Amado López, from whom I not only learned music, but also respect and discipline.

RARE NO, Different from the rest

While I was growing in age, more responsibilities came to my life, at 13 years of age I had a section of 10 music students in my house, with which I had the opportunity to give concerts in different places, winning the applause of the people .
During my adolescence I had the fortune to learn, a little bit, about Latin American Music , under the guidance of an excellent Teacher, Behomar Rojas, who was my Professor of Musical Language, Theory and Solfeggio, in Conservatory of Music of Barquisimeto, which after 2 years of academic teaching, invites me to be part of your group "XÄROP" , I can say, without fear of being wrong, that it was at that time THE BEST in its style, in the whole region, and with which I had pleasant experiences, excellent concerts, trips to different places, beautiful settings and success with the public, but above all the best bases for BE what I am today.

THE RELIGION in My LIFE

I had the honor of studying as a child in a Christian-Catholic school, with extensive training in values ​​and family, a FREE school for children of limited economic means, following the doctrines of St. John Baptist De LaSalle; likewise the accompaniment of my mother who always encouraged me to be religious, I was to formalize my RELIGIOUS STUDIES to be a PRIEST, which did not happen because on the day I had planned to enter, I was selected to study EDUCATION at a recognized PUBLIC UNIVERSITY.

At that moment MY PLANS CHANGED and I started studying at the UNIVERSIDAD PEDAGÓGICA.

DESTINY, FORTUNE, OPPORTUNITY? , maybe all the previous ones!

I tell another anecdote, which could be the cause of what I do now: I was enrolling in my 3rd Semester at my University, when a young woman recognized me of "a music course" that we once studied together (as children), she asks me: " what are you doing? ", I told him that I was still studying music and that I was dedicated to "El Cuatro" (typical instrument from my country), to which she replied: "Hey, I'm an assistant at Singers children's choir , and we NEED a good musician, who is a "cuatrista" with URGENCY, can you join me? "; to which I responded (almost by obligation): "Yes, it's fine".

From that day, I began my work as Accompanying Musician of the prestigious Choir for Children of Lara , learning day by day from Professor Carmen Alvarado and after almost 10 years, due to the I had to serve as Director in Charge during one season, in which I learned a lot from what I do today.

I never asked myself if it was the Heart, the Destiny, the Opportunities or something more sublime ... "The Music", who called me to another mission .

With GOD present in my life, time passed, and with it the experience increased

The doors were opening as they passed, friends were offering opportunities.

So far, I have NEVER asked for, nor looking for a job

One of the things that strikes me the most is that I have been fortunate, and happily I have always said YES. A friend singer told me one day: "Come with me to a rehearsal in a choir that invited me" , I went that day and the next, and the day after ... After a couple of months the Choral Director of this group, had to go on a trip and said: "I leave you my two jobs" one of which was the Direction of an Adult Choir and the other of greater responsibility, as Director of a Department of Musical Arts, in front of a Choir and a Chamber Orchestra in a prestigious University of my region for 3 years.

Time passed and more friends and recommendations won

A good musician friend tells me one day: "They are in need of a Choral Director trained at the Conservatory of Music, to CREATE a Youth Choir of National System of Youth Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela and I recommended you.

That day began another good chapter in the history of MY LIFE.

THE "ACADEMIC MUSIC"

On March 30, 2009, the Youth Choir of Cabudare (Choir of the System of Orchestras) was founded, and with the passing of time consolidates itself also the technique, the skill and academia what is acquired in a pragmatic way, but also takes to the theoretical practice, sharing with other choirs of other choirs of the same level and superiors, who in that constant friction, from concert to concert, that common search for SYMPHONY training, also create bonds of friendship and brotherhood Coral (that only those who have belonged to choral groups, come to understand) ...



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MUSIC "POPULAR, FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONAL"

The people who know me a little, can notice that these three branches of music, constitute for me, a fundamental AXIS in the teaching-learning process of the musician in formation, and as I have always considered myself a musician in formation, I try for all means of incorporating to my repertoire these three (popular, folkloric and traditional) that together with the academic constitute a whole; to achieve this I have tried to live them very closely with my friends from the group "Tambores de Venezuela", being a member in several seasons and those who have been of valuable use to acquire this knowledge first hand and that I ask for your collaboration as musicians for my concerts, or sometimes I serve as a musician for their own.

A good friend told me one day: "Pana, you're

An OCEAN of KNOWLEDGE, with a MILLIMETER of DEPTH "

I was thinking about that phrase, it was strong, for many fulminans ... but with good reason.
Anyone would say that this walk, this travel has been a waste of time, I say that if I had the opportunity to start again, I would definitely go back every step, only that this time being more attentive, more alert to pick up more knowledge at each step, and in this new day achieve at least 99 millimeters more.

The PRINCIPLE OF THE END

After 5 fruitful years in front of the Youth Choir of Cabudare, having been Corals in majestic Concerts under the baton of Prestigious and Great Master Gustavo Dudamel , and personally after being a CUATRISTA musician of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Lara in multitudinous events inside and outside my locality ... Make the decision to separate from The System ; and CREATE a Musical Foundation that has BE as a summary of what I have learned in my life, the best thing about history is that many of the young people trained by me in that "Youth Choir of Cabudare" , decided to join my team and make "La Kantoría" with which in that transition had as main achievement achieve many collective dreams, but other dreams also They were left behind.

TODAY we leave behind the great stages ... the symphonic repertoires, a story with "airs of grandeur" ... to dedicate ourselves to the formation of the relief generation.

Musical Education FREE , with notions of ACADEMIC, POPULAR, FOLKLORE and TRADITIONAL MUSIC , based on VALUES and the FAMILY , made by YOUNG PEOPLE and for CHILDREN and YOUNG PEOPLE .

This is how the

"Kantoría Musical Foundation

was born. When I say that THIS is the "PRINCIPLE OF THE END" , it is because I FEEL and I have the CONVICTION that my END, my OBJECTIVE, my purpose is this ... Share the collected in the way, continue to sow knowledge, but also continue collecting lessons.

TODAY, as Kantoría Musical Foundation we are reaching five good years of work, effort, building a future, carving a present.

Hoy día SOY Gregory Ortiz, y también SOY "Fundación Musical Kantoría".

Nowadays I AM Gregory Ortiz, and also I AM "Kantoría MUSICAL FOUNDATION".

In addition to "THE LOVE and THE PEACE" ...

"THE KNOWLEDGE (it is one of the FEW THINGS) that MULTIPLIES when be SHARE "

By

Gregory Ortiz @Kantos

All the images belong to me