Rick Flores has been performing professionally since 1981 and has been teaching at Chabot College since 1989. He graduated from Chabot in 1978 and earned his Masters degree in guitar performance from Cal State Hayward in a 1986 under Jim Bertram and has studied with such world renowned classical guitarists such as Julian Bream from England, and the Cuban virtuoso Manuel Barrueco among others. 

In 1999 his interest in ethnic music led him to study Indian and Balinese music from Mindhi Devi, an accomplished Bansuri player and Balinese music scholar. Rick began composing music based on various world influences by blending his classical training with altered tunings, percussion, and unconventional strumming techniques. In 2013 he recorded an album 'And The Seed Cracked Open' based on his world music interest. Rick has been a dedicated educator in the Bay Area since 1988 and has published four method books for guitar, two music theory books, and has composed extensively for guitar ensemble and solo guitar. His solo performances are an exciting blend of classical guitar repertoire, original compositions, contemporary jazz and blues arrangements, as well as unconventional guitar techniques borrowed from other world traditions. 

Tonight's performance will feature the premier performance of Rick's transcription of the Romeo and Juliet Suite by Sergei Prokoviev. We will also hear the premier performance Rick's 'Ariel's Harp' Suite; written using an array of open tunings. Also on the program will be arrangements of jazz and popular standards from the great American songbook.