Music of the Americas: The Start of the 2026-2027 Season

Tuesday, September 8, 10 am

Laura Ureña is a Costa Rican singer-songwriter whose songs feel like a comforting embrace. Drawing inspiration from nature and the emotions of everyday life, her music accompanies journeys of self-love, vulnerability, and personal growth. Her sound blends Latin pop, alternative folk, reggae, and bossa nova. Her debut album, Espiral (2022), earned six nominations at the ACAM Awards, winning in two categories. She has shared the stage with artists such as Pablo Alborán, Ricardo Arjona, and Muerdo.

From San José, with Fiorella Hidalgo Aguilar and Fernando Calvo Flores, she sent us this video of "Ancestres," about which she writes:

"This song that stems from the certainty that we do not walk alone. It is a bossa nova track that explores the spiritual connection to our lineage, recognizing that the stories of those who came before us also dwell within our bodies, memories, and emotions. The song is a ritual of gratitude and healing—an invitation to honor our ancestors, acknowledge the lessons we have inherited, and lovingly transform whatever seeks release, allowing life to continue its journey with greater awareness and freedom."

Wednesday, September 9, 10 am

Brazilian guitarist Octávio Deluchi is back with Chiquinha Gonzaga's "Lua branca."

Friday, September 11, 10 am

Argentine guitarist Carlos Wernicke started studying guitar as a child and got his degree at the Conservatorio Juan José Castro in Buenos Aires. He has participated as a soloist and chamber musician in projects spanning tango, pop, Celtic, early, classical, operatic, and contemporary music. He also studied cello, piano, harmony, composition, and counterpoint. His current activities include the transcription of early music, composition, and arranging. He was awarded First Prize in the Jorge Martínez Zárate Competition. His Partita Porteña, Tres piezas de Buenos Aires, Cien noches cerradas, and other works for solo guitar and guitar duos are published in Canada by Les Productions d'Oz.

From San Lorenzo del Escorial, not far from Madrid, he sent us this version of his arrangement of "Si d'amor pena sentís," an anonymous jewel of a piece from the Cancionero de Palacio, a famous Spanish collection of music from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. 

The MetLife Foundation Music of the Americas concert series is made possible by the generous support of Presenting Sponsor MetLife Foundation. 

The 2026–2027 series is also supported, in part, by the Howard Gilman Foundation, Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and Mid Atlantic Arts.