By Sandoval Signpost Staff
JIJI is an acclaimed guitarist praised by The Washington Post for her mesmerizing performances and versatile repertoire. An adventurous artist with expertise in both acoustic and electric guitar, she explores traditional and contemporary classical music, as well as free improvisation. JIJI’s impeccable musicianship, captivating stage presence, and dedication to commissioning and performing new works have established her as a leading guitarist of the 21st century. She has presented solo recitals at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the National Art Gallery, and her performances have been featured on notable platforms such as PBS and NPR.
As a sought-after collaborator, JIJI has premiered compositions by a diverse range of artists and performed alongside renowned ensembles including the New York Philharmonic and Cuarteto Latinoamericano. A passionate advocate of new music, Jiji has premiered a duo piece, Talking Guitars by renowned composer, Paul Lansky. In 2023, she will release UNBOUND, the culmination of a multiyear commissioning and recording project. JIJI’s concerto performances have been widely acclaimed, and she has appeared with numerous orchestras including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony.
JIJI is well known for her distinctive voice, incorporating electronic media and acoustic music.  Her music is influenced by her regular activities as a DJ, where she highlights the electronic dance styles of happy hardcore and Berlin experimental electronica.
Individual tickets can be purchased at PlacitasArts.org, where the concert program, musician bios, and more is available. K-12 students with an adult ticket holder can attend free. The concert is generously sponsored by Debby Hanna and Geri & Larry Verble.
Before the concert there is an earlier 2:00 p.m. monthly artists reception in the church’s Fellowship Hall. On exhibit will be the works of Chris Miller, plein air oil painting; Shelley Miller, acrylic on paper; Jeri Burzin, photography/mixed media, and Christiane Couvert, Belgian ceramics. Also, Dianna Shomaker, Placitas Artists Series’ “Treasured and Feature Artist” for the 2023-2024 concert season, will have her donated artwork, Joy of Summer, valued at $2000.00, on exhibit. It will be raffled in December. Raffle Tickets, at $20 or 3/$55, are available on the PAS website, the library, and at the concerts. The show is open to the public during church gallery hours, Tuesday-Friday, 9:00-1:00 and by appointment, leesmall0@gmail.com.
Placitas Artists Series projects are supported in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.