Executive Staff

Juan Ignacio Ardanaz

Juan Ignacio was born into a family of musicians. He started piano lessons at the Pedro Esnaola School of Music when he was eight years old; there he met Rodrigo Calvo, his present business associate. He later took piano lessons at the Carlos Lopez Buchardo National Conservatoire, where he also received tuition in singing under Julio Raggio, a well known teacher.

Thence he studied harmony under Ignacio Gomez and other notable members of the School of Popular Music of S.A.D.E.M., the Argentine Syndicate of Musicians; here he extended his piano and singing studies to the field of popular music.

As a professional musician his preference was for contemporary music, and as a result joined various rock and jazz groups .

At the same time he sang as a tenor in the choir of the Parish of St. Patrick´s, which was then directed by his friend and fellow music student, Rodrigo.

At the present time he shares his passion for music and choral singing with his two sisters. Maria Eulalia Ardanaz directs the choirs of pupils and parents of St.Brigid´s and Monsignor Dillon´s; both schools are part of the Irish Catholic Association of Argentina. His other sister, Maria Cecilia, sings in the Western Choir Ensamble.

Apart from his musical interests, Juan Ignacio is an insurance broker. This business, which he inherited from his father, has enabled him to establish important business contacts in Argentina as well as neighbouring countries.

 
Rodrigo Calvo

Rodrigo started guitar lessons at the age of five under a neigbourhood tutor. He commenced professional studies at the "Esnaola School of Music" at the age of eleven; it was then that he discovered his passion for choral music. He directed the St Patrick Church´s choir for five years, from the age of fourteen till he was nineteen.

During this period the St Patrick´s choir, under their teenage director performed several times at different events which included a Christmas Eve celebration at the United States Embassy, the American Women´s Club, the US Ambassador´s residence, and the reinauguration at a city square in the Buenos Aires suburb of Belgrano . He also performed at many ecumenical meetings and a considerable number of charity performances.

The repertoire included renaissance pieces as well as concerts featuring his own musical arrangements of contemporary tunes composed by Burt Bacharach, Billy Joel, Simon & Garfunkel and others.

The Choir also took part (with a song written by Rodrigo) in the Argentinean Festival of Christmas Music where it became one of the finalists. Many of his original pieces are still sung by the congregation after more than twenty years.

Rodrigo also taught guitar (classical and electric) and harmony till he was twenty nine. A few years later he got involved in tourism, and was hired by Utell International, a world-wide hotel reservations organisation.

It is said that music helps people to think differently, something which Rodrigo is well aware of. Within a short period Rodrigo was appointed general manager for Utell International Argentina, and one year later he found himself in charge of the Chilean, Uruguayan and Bolivian markets as a Regional Operations Manager.

After six years, he left Utell to work for another international company. He was hired to set up operations at an internet based travel company in Chile; he worked there for a year and then moved to Mexico City in order to set up the company´s operations.

Back in Argentina, and after a long period travelling abroad and working with inbound tourism, he founded Argentina Musical Tours together with Juan Ignacio and Charlie. This firm combines his two passions: music and travel.

 
Charlie Roberts

Charles Roberts (Charlie) was born in Argentina into a English family. He was educated in a well known Anglo-Argentine school.

He has worked for many years in international airlines, where he held important positions in the operational as well as the commercial side of the industry

His interest in music started with private piano lessons at the age of nine. At school he sang in the choir as a treble, and in his senior year sang base.

He also taught himself to play the organ, much to the annoyance of his more learned brethren. His choir teachers at school were mostly graduates of the British Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Organists

After leaving school he took part in amateur musical shows, and also sang in the chorus of various operettas staged by "Gilbert & Sullivan" society of the River Plate, in fact that is where he met his wife. They fell in love during "Pinafore" and married in "Patience"; the firstborn came during "The Mikado".

His hobbies include reading, travel - he has logged an extensive mileage - small home repairs and listening to good music. He lived for many years in a ski resort in the south of Argentina and has now returned to Buenos Aires to be near his two boys and his six grandchildren.

He joined Rodrigo & Juan Ignacio because he perceived that the idea of handling cultural groups and organizing suitable venues was really appealing and a real opportunity of meeting interesting people

 
Carolina Soler

At the age of six in Lima, Peru Carolina Soler commenced her studies in dance at the Lima Municipal Ballet. In 1972 she entered the Choreartium Association Ballet, where she performed as a soloist and principal ballerina before completing her studies with masters such as Alexander Plissetky, Annel Vourenjuvry, Victori Roma and Yele Krnic. Her recording successes are as a soloist in Swan Lake, Raymonda, Coppelia and Interplay and as principal in Suite en Blanc, Paquita, Hansel & Gretel, Nocturnal and Giselle.

Awarded a scholarship in Buenos Aires, she studied with Olga Ferri, Gloria Kasda, Rodolfo Fontán and Esther Knavaia and undertook a partnering course with Ricardo Novich. In 1978 she joined the resident ballet of the Teatro Colón where she had the opportunity to perform all the major works of the classical repertoire, winning plaudits as a prima ballerina in Aurora’s Wedding, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Romeo & Juliet, Dvórak’s Serenade and Emilia. She also danced for the Choreographic Workshop, working with Julio López and Rodolfo Olguin; performed with the Argentine Ballet and the Modern Jazz Ballet, touring nationally and internationally with the companies.

Her interest in tango began when she performed Tango dance with Raul Garello, resulting the formation of Estampas Porteñas in the 1996. Carolina has undertaken the role of choreographer, principal dancer and artistic director of the Company. She has led Estampas Porteñas on tours to many countries around the world.

For her wide ranging artistic endeavors Carolina was presented with the Adán Buenos Aires Award in 1995. The Institute of Hispanic Cultural of Houston, Texas gave Carolina a commemorative plate for her trajectory and her artistic history of excellence of achievement with the Estampas Porteñas. Additionally, Bill White, Governor of Texas, proclaimed October 14 as Day of Estampas Porteñas in Houston.