Legendary guitarists perform at Pomerado Elementary

The students of Pomerado Elementary School in Poway got a special musical treat on April 2 when two members of the legendary classical guitar group The Romeros performed two free concerts at the school.

Cousins Celino and Lito Romero, who make up two of the four current members of The Romeros, performed several songs for the students, as well as explaining the difference between electric and classical guitars, different guitar techniques, sharing some of their family history and answering questions.

The Romeros will be performing a concert celebrating the family group’s 55th anniversary at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets to the concert are $48 and are available online at www.powayarts.org or by calling the box office at 858-748-0505.

Attendees can also add lunch on the patio beforehand for $25. Lunch will go from noon to 1:30 p.m. and will be catered by Cafe Merlot.

The school visit from The Romeros is thanks to the work of Michael Rennie, president of the POW! Foundation, and Elaine Cofrancesco, head of Student Support Services for the Poway Unified School District. “It’s the first time (the Poway Center for the Performing Arts and PUSD have come together to bring a concert to the school) but hopefully not the last,” said Luis Ortiz, the principal at Pomerado Elementary School. “The Romeros wanted to do a master class at a school, and Dr. Cofrancesco said, “I have the perfect one.””

Ortiz is a talented musician himself, and was a music major before switching to education. He has started a ukulele club at Pomerado Elementary to promote music education.

The Romeros, considered an undisputedly great guitar family dynasty in the world, was formed by legendary Spanish composer Celedonio Romero, along with his sons Celin, Angel and Pepe. The current lineup of The Romeros includes Pepe, Celin, Celino (who is the son of Celin) and Lito (the son of Angel).

Pepe Romero’s son, Pepe Jr., is a classical guitar maker. Celino and Lito Romero performed on guitars made by Pepe Jr. during the school concert, which cost about $12,000 each, said Celino Romero.

The cousins performed Antonio Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Lute in D Major”; Enrique Granados’ “Spanish Dance No. 2”; and “Zapateado,” composed by their late grandfather, Celedonio Romero. Each song demonstrated a different classical guitar technique to the students.

Ortiz said he hoped that more master classes and free concerts could be brought to Pomerado Elementary and other schools in the district in the future. “I’m so proud to be part of the Poway Unified School District, that has music as a priority,” said Ortiz. “The commitment to music in this district is incredible.”