Two New String Quartets to Premiere at Pasadena Concert Spotlighting Latin American Composers

Balle Balle Radio™ Entertainment Desk

This fall, the Hispano String Quartet will debut two newly composed works as part of “Viva la Hispanidad,” a chamber music concert scheduled for October 24, 2026, at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Pasadena. The program pairs the debuts with an established repertoire piece and works by five other composers from Cuba, Costa Rica and Mexico.

The concert is produced by composer and conductor Yalil Guerra through RYCY Productions, a division of RYCY Music Group, and advances the quartet’s mission to increase representation of Hispanic and Latin American composers in classical music programming.

The two premieres are “Guerra String Quartet” by Costa Rican composer Francisco Castillo and “De cuerdas…” by Cuban composer Jorge Maletá, according to the announcement. Both pieces were written for the ensemble, allowing composers to connect directly with performers and audiences instead of encountering their work through intermediaries. The program also includes Guerra’s own String Quartet No. 2, which earned a Latin GRAMMY nomination in 2014, alongside works by Paquito D’Rivera, Eddie Mora and Eduardo Gamboa. Together the six composers represent three national traditions: Cuban, Costa Rican and Mexican.

The quartet itself is made up of violinists Marlene Gentile and Alejandro Junco, violist Alejandra Moreno and cellist Masiel Medina.

“In a time when classical music must find new ways to remain vital and relevant, building a genuine relationship between composers and audiences is essential,” Guerra said in the announcement, adding that the goal is to close the distance between the stage and the public and give listeners a reason to return to live concerts.

The concert begins at 8 p.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 311 North Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. Tickets are on sale now through Eventbrite. No information was provided about future recordings or performances of the new works beyond their Pasadena premiere.

Studio CarryOnHarry Perspective

At Studio CarryOnHarry, we recognize that hosting classical premieres in a church sanctuary carries significance beyond programming. St. Andrew’s acoustic properties—designed centuries ago for music and gathering—create an intimacy that concert halls sometimes can’t replicate, allowing chamber works to breathe naturally while inviting broader community participation. This choice anchors the concert in Pasadena’s cultural fabric, positioning it not as an exclusive event for classical music insiders but as a neighborhood gathering that values accessibility. The sacred space itself becomes part of the artistic statement: these new Latin American voices aren’t being cordoned off in specialized venues, but integrated into communal cultural life. For audiences hesitant about classical music’s perceived formality, a church setting feels more welcoming—suggesting that discovery and connection matter more than rigid concert etiquette. This approach models how classical music remains vital by meeting listeners where they are.

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