Marcelo Rojas is one of the new interpreters of the
Paraguayan harp. Born in Yuty, in the state of Caazapá in
1976, he began studying the harp at age 10 under the
tutelage of his father, Don Aquiles Rojas. He regularly
peformed at the Festival del Ita Karu (magnetized
stone) in Yuty, earning recognition at a young age for the
quality of his interpretations. At 16, he moved to
Encarnación, where he continued his studies with maestro
Alfonso Garay, joining the permanent cast of the Encarnación
Cultural Center, taking part in performances in Argentina,
Brazil and Uruguay.
At 18, Rojas went to Asunción, where he joined the music
group Los Mensajeros del Paraguay. Within a short
time, he was traveling to Switzerland, Italy and Spain,
performing in theaters and clubs. Upon his return, he joined
Los 6 Paraguayos, recording a CD and performing
throughout Paraguay. He later formed part of the group
Los Ojeda, which gained fame both inside and outside of
Paraguay, setting ticket sales records. In 1998, he launched
his career as a harp soloist, with successful concerts in
the Caribbean and Central America. Subsequently, he resumed
his music studies at Paraguay’s National Conservatory of
Music.
In 2001, he made his first Paraguayan harp recording. And
most recently, he toured in Japan. He was selected as the
Paraguayan harp performer on a recording by Smithsonian
Folkways, the music label of the Smithsonian Institution.
Rojas is president of the recently created Paraguayan
Harpists Association.
Marcelo Rojas’s performances are known for the dexterity
with which he plays and his ability to embrace a style
within the pulsation of the harp, as well as for his
interpretion of Paraguayan music. Behind a fine and precise
touch, he has recorded several CDs marked by a melodious
selection of songs. He has been described as one of the
finest interpreters in this difficult musical field. |