SURCARI TESTIMONIALS
* Multicultural Shows * Events * Children's Shows
Dear Lorena,
I have been meaning to write to thank you for your performance at McAuley for the Presidents' College back in December. What an amazing way to wrap up our fall season! I had just expected you and your guitar and was so impressed by your kindness in bringing your full range of instruments and in getting your band involved. By all accounts, people loved it and I look forward to being able to invite you back to one of our events. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to have you back to campus when people can really be there in person and without masks? I can see people twirling and shaking maracas already!
Best wishes to you for a good year ahead,Michele Troy
I have been meaning to write to thank you for your performance at McAuley for the Presidents' College back in December. What an amazing way to wrap up our fall season! I had just expected you and your guitar and was so impressed by your kindness in bringing your full range of instruments and in getting your band involved. By all accounts, people loved it and I look forward to being able to invite you back to one of our events. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to have you back to campus when people can really be there in person and without masks? I can see people twirling and shaking maracas already!
Best wishes to you for a good year ahead,Michele Troy
University of Hartford
Director of the Presidents' College
Hello Lorena,
In case you missed the obvious, you and Eugenio blew us away last Saturday. The audience really related to your outstanding performance and you gave us far more than any of us were led to expect. You can be assured that we will bring you back, perhaps in the Fall, for an encore.
You and Eugenio can take just pride in your remarkable talent and your dedication to your art that has resulted in such an entertaining pair. Jean and I really enjoyed our visit with you both and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Regards,Dave & Jean Mcquillan
In case you missed the obvious, you and Eugenio blew us away last Saturday. The audience really related to your outstanding performance and you gave us far more than any of us were led to expect. You can be assured that we will bring you back, perhaps in the Fall, for an encore.
You and Eugenio can take just pride in your remarkable talent and your dedication to your art that has resulted in such an entertaining pair. Jean and I really enjoyed our visit with you both and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Regards,Dave & Jean Mcquillan
Farmington Woods Clubhouse
Committee Chair
Dear Lorena,
We are writing to you on behalf of the "World in Saint Joseph College, International Fair" Planning Committee in order to thank you for the wonderful music that you and SURCARI played. Your contribution greatly enhanced our annual international fair. The enthusiastic response from the Saint Joseph College community was a wonderful tribute to everyone's hard work.
Internationally yours, Wayne Steely, Shyamala Raman, Leo Snow, Lauren Martin, Ashley Hamilton
We are writing to you on behalf of the "World in Saint Joseph College, International Fair" Planning Committee in order to thank you for the wonderful music that you and SURCARI played. Your contribution greatly enhanced our annual international fair. The enthusiastic response from the Saint Joseph College community was a wonderful tribute to everyone's hard work.
Internationally yours, Wayne Steely, Shyamala Raman, Leo Snow, Lauren Martin, Ashley Hamilton
Saint Joseph College
Office of International Studies & Programs
Lorena and Eugenio,
What a wonderful treat! We were delighted to experience your beautiful singing voices and musical talents. Many thanks for teaching us about the wide variety of instruments and the differences of sound and style.Your program was a special way to begin our spring semester.
Warm regards,Augusta Gonzalez
Middlesex Institute for Lifelong Education
MILE Executive Board
Hi Lorena,
Last night was such a wonderful evening. SURCARI added so much to the event and everyone really enjoyed the music!!! I look forward to having you back very soon.
Warm regards,Deborah A. Gaudet
Last night was such a wonderful evening. SURCARI added so much to the event and everyone really enjoyed the music!!! I look forward to having you back very soon.
Warm regards,Deborah A. Gaudet
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
Curator of Film and Theater
Hi Lorena,We had so many compliments on our choice of live music and we were so pleased with the performance you and your band gave us! We would highly recommend you and Surcari!Thank you from all of us…the Zawasky and Lopez families and all our friends and families...we all had such a good time and are so glad that you were a part of it. You made our celebration more special than we could have ever dreamed.You are all very talented musicians. Hope you enjoy these pictures of everyone enjoying your wonderful music!Donna Encarnacion
Wedding
Groom's Mother
Children's Show Testimonials
Dear Lorena,
On behalf of the PTA we wanted to send a huge thank you for your wonderful performance at Old Greenwich yesterday. We had such great feedback from the children, the teachers and our Principal who I think you heard announce that it was our best assembly ever! The combination of musical performance, educational content, interactivity and fun was perfect.
It was a pleasure meeting you all and we most definitely hope to invite you back in the future.Thank you again, Hannah & Meredith
It was a pleasure meeting you all and we most definitely hope to invite you back in the future.Thank you again, Hannah & Meredith
Old Greenwich School, Greenwich, CT
Members of the PTO
Hi Lorena,
On behalf of the students and staff at Alice Beal School, I would like to thank you and your band, Surcari, for the wonderful performance on Friday! Everyone loved the music and enjoyed watching the band play all the different instruments. The students were also thrilled to be part of the show and that's something that they will certainly remember!
Your performance not only allowed the students to hear different music from Puerto Rico and around, but also the students were able to learn a bit of history or interesting facts for each piece you played. I felt that added a wonderful connection for the students. It was a great learning experience for everyone.
We sincerely appreciate your performance at Beal. It was a great way to end a long week and to start spring vacation!
Thank you,Cindy Coughlin
Your performance not only allowed the students to hear different music from Puerto Rico and around, but also the students were able to learn a bit of history or interesting facts for each piece you played. I felt that added a wonderful connection for the students. It was a great learning experience for everyone.
We sincerely appreciate your performance at Beal. It was a great way to end a long week and to start spring vacation!
Thank you,Cindy Coughlin
Alice B. Beal Elementary School, Springfield, MA
Teacher
Lorena,
I just wanted to let you know how much everyone loved your performance. One of my favorite kindergarten teachers said it was, "Intense!". I have a four year old w/ Down syndrome, she doesn't talk much, but all weekend kept saying "Dance!" and pretended to shake maracas because she was chosen as a volunteer (and stole your show for a moment I might add). My third grader's favorite part was the rainforest demo. I loved hearing about the Spanish Conquistadors. Our music teacher raved about you to another music teacher at a different school, so I toId them I would check. (Excerpt)
Thanks, Tricia Maxham
I just wanted to let you know how much everyone loved your performance. One of my favorite kindergarten teachers said it was, "Intense!". I have a four year old w/ Down syndrome, she doesn't talk much, but all weekend kept saying "Dance!" and pretended to shake maracas because she was chosen as a volunteer (and stole your show for a moment I might add). My third grader's favorite part was the rainforest demo. I loved hearing about the Spanish Conquistadors. Our music teacher raved about you to another music teacher at a different school, so I toId them I would check. (Excerpt)
Thanks, Tricia Maxham
Memorial Elementary School, East Hampton, CT
Member of the PTO
Lorena,
On behalf of Marvin School, I'd like to thank you and the other members of Surcari for putting on such a beautiful performance on Thursday night. You are all very talented, and it was truly an enriching experience to hear and see you.
My family and I have been listening to the Surcari CD since Thursday! Your music is truly beautiful. It was a pleasure to have met you, and I hope to get to see you again in the future.
Sincerely,Nicki T. Gotouhidis
On behalf of Marvin School, I'd like to thank you and the other members of Surcari for putting on such a beautiful performance on Thursday night. You are all very talented, and it was truly an enriching experience to hear and see you.
My family and I have been listening to the Surcari CD since Thursday! Your music is truly beautiful. It was a pleasure to have met you, and I hope to get to see you again in the future.
Sincerely,Nicki T. Gotouhidis
Marvin Elementary School, Norwalk, CT
Teacher
Hi Lorena,
I just wanted to say a special thank-you to you and your band members for the amazing concert that you performed for us this past Thursday evening! I could see that everyone loved the music especially the little ones! We put a special thank-you to all of you on our Instagram page as well-you can see it at:
https://www.instagram.com/hagaman_easthaven
I look forward to hopefully inviting you back in the future!! Thanks again!
My very best,Cynthia Gwiazda
Hagaman Memorial Library, East Haven, CT
Community Services Librarian
Hi Lorena,
Just wanted to say thanks for the assembly today - the kids LOVED it! They really enjoyed seeing the instruments and learning about them and especially the rainforest sounds you created. I will be ordering both your CD's this weekend!
Thanks again…Lauren House
Just wanted to say thanks for the assembly today - the kids LOVED it! They really enjoyed seeing the instruments and learning about them and especially the rainforest sounds you created. I will be ordering both your CD's this weekend!
Thanks again…Lauren House
H. A. Marsh Elementary School, Absecon, NJ
Teacher
Thanks so much Lorena!
The assembly this morning was exellent :) The kids and teachers really enjoyed it. You all did a fabulous job... It was very interactive and you played such a large variety of instruments and music.
Thanks again! :)Jill Ireland
Thanks again! :)Jill Ireland
Cos Cob School, Cos Cob, CT
Teacher
Hi Lorena,
I just received a phone call from Andrea Parks from Whisconere Middle School, I have been setting up programs with her for more years than I would like to admit to. She told me that the program they had with you was the best that had ever come to their school.......
Just thought you would like to know!!!
Thank you!Loraine Brown
Young Audiences Arts for Learning Connecticut
Program Manager
Dear Aileen,
Today we had another group perform as part of our Festival of Language and Arts. They're called "Trio Surcari", and they played a mixture of Caribbean and Andean music. They also did a nice job of getting the kids involved in playing instruments. It was a wonderful performance, and I would like to recommend themas a workshop for the COLT Fall Conference. I think there would be a great interest in their presentation. I'm copying Lorena Garay, the classical and latin guitarist who heads the group.
Thanks for all your efforts to put together a wonderful fall conference! Have a great Easter! Marcy Carreras
Thanks for all your efforts to put together a wonderful fall conference! Have a great Easter! Marcy Carreras
Wilton High School
Teacher
What the Children Say
You guys were amazing. I am a musician and I love music. Not just music, but good music, and that’s the kind of music you guys play. You should always keep playing no matter what someone says, because from my point of view you guys were great.
Grey Z.
Student
I thought you were amazing. The instruments were so interesting and unique. It was so fun when you showed us how the instruments were used and let us play. I wore the cool hat and played the things with the piano strings. SURCARI is AWESOME!
Mason P.
Student
I thought you were amazing. It was really cool, especially the frog instrument. You play really great music. I hope that I can see you guys play again. You did Great! You have a different variety of music, and I liked it.
Maggie M.
Student
I liked when people dance to the music. I also liked the rainforest song, because it had all the animal sounds. My favorite instrument is the rain stick, because of the really cool sound it makes. I thought that the onstage hats were very cool.
Chase V.
Student
I thought you were amazing. I loved the South American and Caribbean mix. I really enjoyed the music. It was so cheerful and happy. All the instruments were really interesting. There was tons of variety.
Robert W.
Student
I thought that you were amazing!! I loved how you explained the history of the instruments. It’s cool to see how many instruments were made from animals. There was so much variety!
Ava M.
Student
I thought that you were amazing. I have learned so much about music today. I can’t believe how many different kinds of instruments there are.
Harlene S.
Student
I thought you guys were awesome. The pan pipes were really cool and they sounded great. Also the ostrich hats were so awesome. You were great.
Maddie S.
Student