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J. R.  MONROY

Founder and President of the Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Society

© 2004 LACCS

 

 

J.R. MONROY

juan.monroy@btinternet.com

The remarkable South American musical entrepreneur and concert manager Juan Monroy came to Britain with his wife in  the early 1970s from his native Chile, in the wake of the political unrest which had affected every aspect of life in that country.

Click HERE for article about
J R Monroy and LACCS in
Musical Opinion Magazine
Nov/Dec 2005
Click HERE for article in
Classical Guitar Magazine

Monroy had studied history at University in Chile but his lifelong interest in music was also immensely strong.  He is a talented guitarist and when he arrived in London he was astonished to discover that the classical music of Latin America and the Caribbean was virtually unknown in Britain in general and amongst the London concert-going public in particular.

Juan Monroy soon realised that the European perception of Latin American music and muscians from a continent of several hundred million inhabitants was woefully deficient.  He determined to do something about it and the result's of his and his wife's considerable endeavours in founding LACCS and the notable work the Society has done during the last twenty seasons has been one of the most important fixtures of the London season as well as one of the most innovative.


VISITS, FESTIVALS, CONFERENCES AND DIPLOMACY




BRNO GUITAR FESTIVAL
Czech Republic

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Poster with some of the artists and intellectual participants in Brno Guitar Festival 07


Brno is a medieval city, 800 years old in Central Europe near to Praha, Viena and Bratislava. Today is a cultural centre with universities and judiciary institutions.

The legendary Jorge Morel in action! Classes and tutorial session to young guitar students.

Brno, at the medieval Liberty Square, you can enjoy as I did a nice pint of the famous Czech beer!

Lunch time: from left to right: Juan R Monroy, Jorge Cardoso, Maria Isabel Siewers and the legendary Jorge Morel.

The Lecture

Sociology of the music and the Praxis: An analysis of two decades of experience in the performing arts by LACCS in London. Ideas were discussed with the students related to the origins and form of styles and practical step to be a performer.

Juan R Monroy, Chairman of LACCS, with Milan Tesar, one of the most important composer for the Czech classical and popular guitar music. His works are published in various international publishing houses. (Germany, France and Japan amongst others).

During a break: Prof. J R Monroy with the famous Slovak guitarist Josef Zsapka. Dagmar and Josef Zsapka also constitute an international duo of flute and guitar with a brilliant technique and beautiful sounds with different styles.





MY VISIT TO PRAGUE

My camera in action! The Lesser Town Bridge Tower. was built in the second half of the 15th century.

Finally to cross the historical site. The medieval Charles Bridge to the Old Town, which is a different world with narrow alleys, secluded squares, thin and Gothic towers. A city who experience the worst time in European history, from Hitler, Stalin and the Cold War.






CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL

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From left to right:
Professor Helen Garnett PSM Vice Chancellor, Charles Darwin University, Professor J R Monroy, Chairman LACCS and Adrian Walter, Dean Faculty of Law, Business and Arts, and Artistic Director.

Dean Adrian Walter, introduced Prof. J R Monroy to the lecture THE PRAXIS OF THE MUSIC: LATIN AMERICA.

Professor J R Monroy in class on the subject Sociology of the Music: The praxis of the Latin American guitar and the learning of the experience.

Carlos Barbosa-Lima is interviewed in local Radio Darwin, Australia.

Carlos Barbosa-Lima in action! Master Class in Alberto Ginastera, Sonata for Guitar Op 47

LACCS with three legendary South American guitarist of all time! From left to right. Carlos Barbosa-Lima (Brazil), Gentil Montana (Colombia), Prof. J R Monroy (LACCS) and Eduardo Fernandez (Uruguay). It was an evening of romantic guitar with boleros! A mixture of classical and South American rhythms!

Time to depart, but not before an aromatic morning coffee at the Darwin University cafeteria. Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Eduardo Fernandez and Juan R Monroy.




A VISIT TO THE ABORIGINAL LANDS OF KAKADU, NATIONAL PARK, AUSTRALIA.

Kakadu National Park is a commonwealth Reserve under the Environmental Protection and Bio-diversity Conservation Act 1999. Kakadu is a cultural landscape It was shaped by the spiritual ancestors of Aboriginal people during the Creation Time.


A cup of tea to relax for my trip to the land of Aboriginal floodplain language called Gagudju.

With my innocent camera I tried to get the sleeping reptile of the freshwater: Crocodylus johnstoni, and Crododilus porosus, Estuarine (saltwater), crocodiles, also found in India, South East Asia and Papua New Guinea.





Asia Pacific Panel Discussion: "Some Reflections on Asia/Pacific on TIMES OF CRISIS AND HOPE."

Herringham Hall, Regent College, London,
Monday 20th April 2009 at 6.30 p.m.
By Invitation Only

Panel Members:

Professor J R Monroy, Founder and Chairman of the Latin American & Caribbean Cultural Society (LACCS).
Dr Kerry Brown, Senior Fellow, Asia Programme, Chatham House.
Professor Laixiang Sun, SOAS. University of London.

Abstract
Professor J R MONROY
Title: Some Reflection on Asia/Pacific on Times of Crisis an d hope.

First I explained my own concept of CRISIS which is an attempt to explained it together with the dialectical nature of the development of capitalism and its implications in the evolution of a society either primitive or modern. Some examples were given of how "crisis" in history find new stages of superior level.

Secondly this new social or economic order bring hope through communication and trade; with regard to the Pacific region which is two thirds of the population, I mentioned some disadvantages of the Pacific region for future association to free trade and political under- standing, amongst a variety of languages, customs, religions, and cultures.

In the second section of the paper I analysed how the Pacific South American countries faced the problem of the opening of the Pacific market and trade and their awakening to the world politics. I focussed on the strategic role of China, South East Asia, India and Australia New Zealand, as the main political and economic forces to be considered important for the future development of the Pacific South American countries.

I considered the case of Chile, as exceptional for its historical ties to the Pacific region, for its natural geo-political location in the map of the South American continent. I illustrated some samples in which Chile at the end of XVIII century was exploring the possibility of trade with Australia, and later by mid of 19th century, the Chilean trade with California and Australia, via Pacific, and the creation of the first South American merchant navy. Finally, the take over of the Eastern Island, considered the last natural resource of the Polynesia.

In summary I concluded that we do no be afraid of the concept of crisis, on the contrary we need to concentrate our thinking in positive experiences and learn from previous world crisis in the past, and specially concentrate our reflection in the future relations of Asia/Pacific and the Pacific Coast of Latin America, in which obviously Chile will play an strategic and valuable role.





Prof. J. R Monroy's Visit to CHILE December 2007

Prof. J. R Monroy, Founder and Chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Society (LACCS), visited CHILE in December 2007 to explore ways of co-operation between LACCS and the Chilean Cultural and Educational institutions.

From last week of November to December 2007,Prof. J R Monroy visited several Chilean Universities to explore opportunities for co-operation, specially with Music Department and with special interest to develop the Chilean classical guitar.

An interesting proposal project were discussed with the Institute of Music of the Catholic University in Santiago, for 2009-2010. The basic idea was to create a join project for young musicians, to stimulate the learning of new repertoires for the classical guitar and string ensembles with special concerts and music activities abroad.

A visit to the University of La Serena, with Dra Catalina Cvitanic Abarca, Director of External Communication, agreed to promote LACCS activities to the students, and to explore future co-operations in join projects for young and gifted musicians.

Prof. J R Monroy was invited by the Department of External Communication, University of Bio Bio, Concepcion, to give a talk about LACCS's 25 Years Experience in the field of performing art, in England, and it was an opportunity to met some colleagues of the Music Department, of the University of Concepcion.

It was agreed that in a second visit in 2008, Prof. J R Monroy will give a Lecture in the subject of "The Praxis of the Music" and "Sociology of the Music". (Focussed in Latin America and Europe).

His visit was undoubtedly an experience to learn more about the Chilean musical education with regard to teaching and learning of classical guitar as well as its progress in the last decades, especially in the Northern and Southern regions of the country.

Prof. J R Monroy was warmly welcomed by Professors Alejandro Gallegos, Director of the Music Department, Fernando Lillo, in charge of the Chair of Classical Guitar at the University of Concepcion and Isabel Almeida, Chair of Guitar, at the University of Bio Bio. Finally, following the Chilean tradition to welcome the guest, he was invited to a lovely local restaurant on the border of Bio Bio River, to enjoy a selection of delicatessen prepared with local fishes, meat and aromatic wines. It was really a happy journey!


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LACCS GUEST AT DIPLOMATIC CELEBRATIONS

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Photo No 1:

Chile National Day at the Ambassador of Chile residence.

From left to right:

Captain Otto Mrugalski, Maritime Adviser of Chile to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), H.E. Gilberto Arias, Ambassador of Panama, H.E. Mr Paul Farquharson, High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and Prof. J R Monroy, Chairman LACCS.

Photo No 2:

Armenian National Day Reception at the Cavalry & Guards Club, Piccadilly, London

From left to right:

Mr Rodrigo Espinoza, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Chile, H.E. Mr Juraj Zervan, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Prof J R Monroy, (LACCS) and H.E. Mr Sami Khiyami, Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic.

 

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Professor J R Monroy, Chairman LACCS with Senior Colonel, Wang Shujun, Air Attache, The Chinese People's Liberation Army Anniversary, Embassy of the People's Republic of China. The 86th Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey celebrated at the Ambassador residence in London.

From left to right:
Brigadier General Mohammad Farghal, Military Naval & Air Attache, Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Prof. J R Monroy and Mrs Farghal.



HOME PAGE About LACCS J. R. Monroy 26 years
on
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Bibliography
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