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Nico Angel
Nico Angel — School Director & Master Guitar Teacher
“For nearly eighty (80) years of teaching and music-making, there have been only three Directors of the Arlington School of Music®.”
Current Director, Nico Angel, has been with the Arlington School of Music® since 1967 as Head of the Guitar Department. As President and Head Director for over twenty-five (25) years, he has both directed and managed the Arlington School of Music®. Nico Angel teaches guitar in Classical, Folk idioms, and popular styles, specializing in Concert Flamenco Guitar in the style of Sabicas and Paco de Lucía — a highly sought-after guitar style. Classes are taught at beginning, intermediate, advanced, and concert levels. Nico Angel has studied guitar in Spain, Mexico, Canada, and South America with grand masters such as Sabicas, Mario Escudero, Serranito, Manolo Sanlúcar, and Angel Romero.
Outside of the Arlington School of Music®, Nico Angel has toured and performed for over forty (40) years with internationally-known artists from overseas.
Current Work
Nico Angel is currently Head Director of the Los Flamencos Gypsy Ballet®, performing throughout the Midwestern United States. His Ballet of Authentic Dances, Songs, and Music of Spain is available for special occasions such as weddings, parties, and cultural events. The “Los Flamencos Gypsy Ballet®” also provides cultural presentations for schools at the elementary, secondary, and university levels.
You can view a special video of Nico Angel performing with the “LOS FLAMENCOS GYPSY BALLET®.”
Honors & Appearances (Partial List)
- Second Place Winner, First Chet Atkins International Guitar Festival and Competition at the Grand Ol’ Opry in Nashville, TN — the first and only Flamenco Guitarist in its class.
- Performer, Guitar Series at Akron, Ohio, Museum of Art.
- Performed exclusively for Andres Segovia, Carlos Montoya, and Laurindo Almeida at Chicago’s Café Barcelona.
- Brought to Chicago the legendary Paco de Lucía to Orchestra Hall and appeared with him in a performance of “ENTRE DOS AGUAS,” later touring with him throughout the southeast U.S.
- Contracted “Sabicas” for a sold-out performance on the Allied Arts Guitar Series at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall.
- Performed with Pascual Olivera and Angela del Moral (Royal Ballet of Spain) for over 25 years across North and South America.
- Performed with renowned Flamenco singer Enrique Morente at Loop College in Chicago — the city’s first authentic Flamenco “Cante” concert.
- Toured with Gypsy Flamenco singer Rafael Romero throughout Spain, learning to accompany traditional Gypsy Flamenco repertoire.
- Accompanied the great Flamenco dancer “El Farruco” in Sevilla, Spain.
- Performed excerpts from Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Concierto Andaluz” with the Pascual Olivera & Angela del Moral Spanish Dance Ballet and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
- Won the Concerto Competition of the Chicago Musical College performing Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto en Re (D Major) for Lute and Orchestra — the first guitarist in school history to do so.
- Performed at Ravinia, Lyric Opera House, Auditorium Theatre, Urban Gateways, and for the Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs.