Efraín Amador

Studies

Amador began studying guitar at Havana Municipal Conservatory (Amadeo Roldán) with renowned professor Isaac Nicola and graduated in 1970. At a later time he studied guitar at the Instituto Superior de Arte with professors Nicola and Leo Brouwer, as well as musical composition with José Ardévol, Roberto Valera and José Loyola. In 1981 he received a Doctorate Degree from the Instituto Superior de Arte. He also received post-graduate instruction from distinguished guitarist such as Alirio Díaz and Antonio Lauro.

Work

Efraín Amador is credited for having achieved the inclusion of the Cuban “lute” and “tres” performance techniques in the academic programs of art schools in Cuba. He has closely collaborated with his wife Doris Oropesa in numerous performances and has served for many years as a professor at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA).

During the year 2012, Efraín Amador visited the United States, where he was invited to participate at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. In San Francisco he was received by renowned guitarist David Tanenbaum, who hosted Amador’s two hours lecture concert, where he exposed the characteristics and principles of the “Cuban School of tres and laud”. At the same city, Amador participated in a TV and radio broadcast, and ended his tour in Oregon, where he played at the Oswego County and at the Hispanic Art and Culture Festival in Portland. During that trip, Efraín Amador also recorded a CD at a Studio in Los Angeles, California.

Musical compositions

Amador's ample catalog of compositions include:

Choir

Choir and orchestra

Guitar

Guitar and piano

Lute

Lute and piano

Tres

Tres and piano

Voice and piano