In the green room, I couldn’t help but smile because I could hear traditional music being played by local musicians from the window. I almost wished that I could join them and participate by performing with the locals.  My concert featured composers from South America including Piazzolla, Lauro, Villa-Lobos, Gardel, and many others. I received a standing ovation and played another tango arrangement as an encore.

Thursday, November 26th, 2009, the morning was spent having more traditional food. I loved the meal called “empanadas”; an empanada is almost like a version of a calzone only filled with ingredients such as shredded beef, machaca, ham and cheese, and potatoes. I also enjoyed eating empanadas with a green sauce; I don’t want to know what was in it but it tasted really good. That evening I played my final concert in Guarenas at a breathtaking church right in the heart of town. This concert program still featured South American composers but added composers such as JS Bach, J Rodrigo, E Satie, L Brouwer, and others. At the conclusion of the program, I received a standing ovation and before I played my encore Arnaldo presented me with a certificate of participation for the Festival. He announced to the audience that I had missed my birthday by spending it traveling to Venezuela so the audience still standing proceeded to sing me Happy Birthday followed by a traditional Venezuelan birthday song.  After performing my encore, I was met by the majority of the audience backstage for a light reception.  Following I headed back to the hotel to gather my things and leave to Caracas where I would be flying out. On the way to the airport Arnaldo stopped to get one of Guarenas famous empanadas to send me off on a full stomach.

I will remember all my new friends and colleagues in Venezuela and thank the Festival for the opportunity to share my music with many people. I look forward to traveling back to South America again soon.