Guitarist dies after attack in Juárez

Aquiles Valdez Ortiz, whose popular classical guitar lessons inspired generations of borderland musicians, died Monday night of injuries received in a Juárez assault in late May. He was 77 years old.
The musician fell victim of ongoing attacks in the city torn by violence. Family members said robbers hit him in the head on May 26 while they were trying to steal his vehicle. He spent 12 days in a hospital before he died. Chihuahua state officials did not confirm the attack.

Valdez’s musical career included playing soundtracks for Mexican films, performing with symphony orchestras and recording albums featuring his own arrangements of classical pieces.
But his legacy extended beyond his performances.

“He inspired scores of young people to become musicians,” said John Siqueiros, head of the guitar program at the University of Texas at El Paso. “He was a very dedicated teacher. He took it really seriously.”

Valdez taught at UTEP from 1974 to 2001 and headed the mariachi band there. He also taught at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez and Juárez’s Academy of Arts.

One of his students was El Paso guitarist Mario Otero.

“Everyone has taken guitar with Valdez,” Otero said. “He’s got such a past. There’s been so many musicians that he has taught.”

Valdez began to play the guitar at the age of 7 and learned from his father, Manuel Valdez. He was born in Jerez, a city in the state of Zacatecas, and was raised in Juárez. His brother is Roberto Valdez, a
violinist and his last musical companion.

Aquiles Valdez’s mission was to translate Mexican folk music into a classical guitar style.

“In a single recital he could play ‘La Bikina’ and end up with George Federic Handel’s ‘Sarabande,’ ” said Hiram Rodriguez Reyes, a guitar teacher at Jefferson High School.

Rodriguez Reyes said he played with Valdez in a quartet from 1994 to 1998 in Juárez, El Paso and Chihuahua.

He said Valdez composed originals such as “Suite Fuensanta,” inspired by the life of the Mexican poet Ramón López Velarde. That composition earned Valdez the David Alfaro Siqueiros prize, a state award.

“It was due to his passion for folk music as well as his commitment to promote serious classical guitar music that audiences loved his virtuoso performances,” Rodriguez Reyes said.

His students said Valdez was a contemporary of Abraham Chavez, the former El Paso Symphony Orchestra conductor for whom the Downtown concert hall is named.

Although Valdez’s classical style was his signature, genres such as jazz, rock and blues also suited him well.

“He was very open-minded. He was really good at playing sambas and bossa nova,” said Stefan Schyga, a Franklin High School teacher. “He was just incredible for the Latin music.”

Valdez also played music for three soundtracks of Mexican films along with renowned composer Manuel Esperón.

Besides the guitar lessons, Schyga said, he learned humbleness from the maestro.

“If you do it for the right reasons, you will be successful,” Schyga said Valdez taught him.

Valdez’s modesty did not translate to the stage.

“He would always get a standing ovation,” Otero said.

Valdez had two sons — Martin, a guitar teacher at Tech de Monterrey in Juárez and Gerardo, a math instructor at UTEP.

Martin Valdez said the family was devastated by the death and did not want to comment. Aquiles Valdez’s wife died about four years ago, friends said.

Source: http://www.elpasotimes.com/