I have experienced PASO both from the stage and from the audience and have never been disappointed; in fact I have on every occasion been both impressed and inspired.
Scott Tucker
Artistic Director, The Choral Arts Society of Washington
Arthur Espinoza, Jr.
Former Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
Robert Pullen
Director of Special Programming, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
[PASO] is truly a gem and I commend you for your commitment and dedication to the art form.
Rita Moreno
The Orchestra accompanied Chita Rivera and me at the Latino Inaugural Celebration on January 20, 2013. In spite of such short notice, the Orchestra and its leadership rose to the occasion and because of its level of professionalism and musicality, the performance was quite a success.
Rosanna Ruscetti
General Manager, The Lincoln Theater
PASO has demonstrated quality musicianship and brings a fresh appreciation and awareness to Latin American and Spanish contributions to the classical repertoire. PASO is an important cultural institution, successfully creating a public interest in the wealth of Latin American talent.
Patricia A. McGuire
President, Trinity Washington University.
PASO is truly one of the great bright lights in our city. I can think of few other organizations that operate so consistently on the strength of volunteerism, a passion for beauty and culture, and a high degree of commitment to the idea that cultivation of the aesthetic senses can contribute to marked improvement in the community.
History
Pan American Symphony Orchestra
(PASO) was founded 25 years ago by dynamic Argentine conductor and musician, Sergio Alessandro Bušlje, with the objective of bringing Latin American symphonic music to Washington, DC concert halls. Maestro Bušlje had studied and performed standard classical repertoire for many years but noticed a gap in the area’s cultural offerings—Latin American culture was not fully represented in area performances, even though our Latin American neighbors possess a treasure trove of symphonic works that beg to be played.
Over the years
Paso has featured
rarely performed works by composers from Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Venezuela, Cuba, and Brazil. PASO has performed zarzuelas (Spanish opera) from Spain and Cuba and Spanish operas, such as La Vida Breve and Goyescas. The orchestra has dedicated a concert series to Latin American woman composers and was the first orchestra in the Washington, DC area to perform the unusual, but beautifully melodic, tango-opera Maria de Buenos Aires, by Astor Piazzolla.
Two Decades Later
Now more than two decades later
PASO continues to provide quality performances of music originating from Latin America with an on-going concert series that showcases gifted Latin American musicians and soloists. With critical acclaim from the media and a loyal and growing following from the public, PASO remains on the cutting edge of symphonic performances with newly commissioned works, such as Danzon no. 7, by eminent contemporary Mexican composer, Arturo Marquez, who dedicated this beautiful piece to Maestro Bušlje.
Bossa Nova and Beyond
February is Carnival time and PASO takes you away to sunny Brazil with the sounds of Bossa Nova. Joining PASO is the Dani Cortaza Quartet and three Brazilian singers. But there's more. PASO performs music inspired by Brazilian popular and folk music, such as Le Boeuf sur le toit (The Ox on the Roof), by French composer, Darius Milhaud and the showpiece Dansa Brasileira by Brazilian composer, Camargo Guarnieri.
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
February 29, 2020 at 7:30 PM-The Terrace Theater of the Kennedy Center
Click button below to view lists of all our concerts chronologically with brief information such as name of concert, etc and link to purchase tickets.
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Season-at-a-Glance
PASO participates in Washington’s Sister Cities initiative for citizen diplomacy this summer in San Salvador, El Salvador with a performance of Latin American and American music at the National Theater and master classes for the Youth Orchestra of El Salvador.
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
PASO and the Youth Orchestra of El Salvador - July 2020
Back by Popular Demand - From Buenos Aires Juan D'Arienzo Orchestra
Named after the legendary tango orchestra leader known as the Rey del Compás (King of Rhythm They made their U.S. debut last year in PASO's DC Tango Festival. As Juan D'Arienzo said many years ago, "tango, for me, has three things: beat, impact, and nuance. A tango orchestra, ought to have, above all, life". Admission: $45, includes Argentine wine reception. Advance sales only. For more information, call 240-242-8032
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 7:30 PM
ONLY $5 PER PERSON PER CLASS!
Dance tango in four lessons! . Classes are offered in a 4-class package ONLY. No single classes offered. You must pay in advance as space is limited. You must come as a couple. Taught by Arnaud Lucas and Corinne Merzeraud, these classes are for those who have no previous experience dancing tango. Instruction is in English. Appropriate tango dancing shoes are required (leather, suede or hard plastic soles) - no rubber soles!! To pay with a credit card, call 240-242-8032 or click on the button below.
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 at 6:30 PM
Milonga del Festival
A tango dance party at the elegant Embassy of Argentina with PASO's tango ensemble and bandoneón player, Rodolfo Zanetti. Non-dancers are also welcome. For more information, call 240-242-8032
$45 admission, includes Argentine wine reception. Advance ticket sales only.
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Friday, March 6, 2020 at 8 PM
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13, 2020 at 7:30 PM
Admission to March 13 show
Cafetin de Buenos Aires with Mariana Quinteros
Joining the PASO Tango Orchestra is Mariana Quinteros, singing popular tangos by Argentina's most well-known tango composers.
Call 240-242-8032 for more information - Advance ticket sales only. Admission $45, includes Argentine wine reception.
Admission to March 12 show
Tango of the Americas is an exciting show of original tango music from Colombia, Argentina, and the United States that marks the release of PASO’s new recording and the end of the 2020 DC Tango Festival. Buy your tickets now. This show sells out fast!
Admission: $65 - $55, reserved seating. Tickets can be purchased at the Kennedy Center box office or by calling (202) 467-4600. Box Office Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-9 pm; Sunday and holidays, noon-9 pm. Check back soon - more events will be added.
Upcoming Concerts
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Saturday, April 19, 2020 at 7:30 PM
Octavio Brunetti (1975-2014)
Pianist
Octavio Brunetti was PASO's tango pianist from 2006 and his addition brought a new level of musicianship to the orchestra. Perhaps the best tango pianist in the United States, Brunetti studied classical piano at the National School of Music in his home town of Rosario, Argentina.
“He was composing his own tangos for a recording with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra when he passed away in August 2014 from a sudden illness..”
PASO Musicians
Diana LeGrand
Concertmaster
Diana LeGrand, from Assisi, Italy, started her music studies at age two and a half, learning from her mother, a teacher of violin and piano. At age 15, she was accepted to the North Carolina School of the Arts (NCSA) where she studied under the late Elaine Richey, formerly the first violinist of the Razamousky Quartet.
She received both her Bachelor and Masters degrees in Violin Performance and continued her studies at NCSA with Robert Mann, one of the founding members of the Julliard String Quartet, and with Nicholas Mann, the second violinist of the Mendelssohn String Quartet.
Dorotea Racz
Violincello
Croatian cellist, Dorotea Racz, has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, as well as North and South America, in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Mozarteum in Salzburg. Festival appearences include Washington's European Month of Culture, International Festival "Umbria Classica", Rovinj Festival, and PagArt Festival. An ardent chamber musician, Racz is a founding member of Racz-Samogray Duo and Ensemble Accendo.
Her solo and chamber music preformances have been broadcast on HRT Radio and Television.
Jason Solounias
Pianist
Award-winning pianist Jason Solounias has distinguished himself as a multi-dimensional musician. He is passionate about inspiring new generations of musicians and is dedicated to community engagement and education.
With performances across the United States and Europe, ranging from the Kennedy Center to Southwark Cathedral, Solounias is equally comfortable in the classical world as he is as a jazz and session musician.
Copyright ©
2007 - 2020
Pan American Symphony