DUO
SERENATA
Latin music in Brisbane
Duo Serenata
Duo Serenata was formed in 1991 to perform Mexican Mariachi
songs for the Brisbane Ethnic Music and Arts Centre’s (BEMAC)
World Music Cafe in Brisbane.
The charisma and exuberance of Ovidio combined with the
precision and dexterity of Russell gave rise to a very special energy and this proved so popular Duo Serenata subsequently performed every year for the 10 year duration the World Music Cafe.
In addition, Duo Serenata has performed extensively in and
around Australia at Multi-Cultural Festivals and Functions, Hotels, Restaurants and any event requiring a Mexican, Latin American or Spanish theme.
Since 2011 Duo Serenata was a featured act at the Fista Latina at Southbank and will do again in 2014.
Also, they were invited to "Viva La Frida - The Exhibition" opened at the Circle Gallery which featured 28 Brisbane Artists who have been inspired by Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo.
Ovidio Orellana
Ovidio was born in Guatemala in Central America. From the age of six was taught singing from his father and almost immediately started performing throughout the local community.
He later studied for two years at theConservatorio Nacional de Música deGuatemala and subsequently started to perform throughout Central America in Latin Style Trios, Pop Orchestras, Traditional Guatemalan Marimba Ensembles and a variety of Mariachi Groups.
Since arriving in Australia, he has been involved in many Latin American Ensembles and has performed throughout Eastern Australia i.e., Sydney, Melbourne and extensively in South-East Queensland.
Ovidio sings in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English and his specialities are internationally well known songs and Mexican Mariachi styles.
His contemporaries have described him as “The Greatest Mariachi Tenor in Australasia”.
Russell Neville
Russell was born in Mt Isa, Queensland and in 1988 graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and whilst there won many prizes and awards.
He was twice a finalist in the Australian Guitar Competition in Sydney. In 1989-1990 he studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. He has twice been a finalist in International Classical Guitar Competitions.
Russell has an extensive career as a guitarist in solo recital, soloist with orchestra, diverse chamber settings, music theatre, jazz, rock and a variety of other popular settings. He has made three solo concert tours of the United States, played solo concerts in Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Spain, Italy, and France in addition to many tours throughout Australia.
In 1995 formed the Queensland Guitar Society and was its president from 1995 to 1998.
He has made several recordings including two solo classical recordings: “Fiesta Guitarra” and “Russell Neville, Live in Concert” and various with the classical /folk ensemble “Colombia Linda”.
In May 2006 for the Brisbane Ethnic Music and Arts Centre at QPAC he performed in a Colombian music spectacular Calor Colombia.
In 2008 and 2009 he performed with the Brisbane based choir Canto Coro in seven performances of Cantata Santa María de Iquique by Luis Advis and Epitaphios by Mykis Theodorakis.
More recently in August of 2012 he organised for the Croatian Virtuoso guitarist “Ana Vidovic” to perform a concert and Master class in Brisbane at the Chapel at Anglican Church Grammar School. For more info visit www.russellneville.com.au
