Elbio Rodríguez Barilari was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he studied at the Conservatório Universitario.  As a clarinetist and saxophonist, from 1994 to 1997 Barilari led the BarilariQuinteto and organized Planeta Blues, the first Uruguayan blues band to tour Europe and to record a compact disc; during the 1990s, he also led the fourteen-piece La Banda Oriental. 

Since settling in the United States, Barilari has lectured at the University of Chicago and the Instituto Cervantes, and given workshops in Chile and Paraguay.  He is currently on the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has collaborated annually with the Grant Park Music Festival - helping to organize a tribute concert to Astor Piazzolla for which he was also commissioned to write his Bandoneón Concerto.  Barilari is also the founder of “Global Warming,” a Chicago ensemble devoted to the exploration of various cultural traditions.

Elbio Barilari has been closely involved with educational and community affairs, having served as an advisor to the Ministry of Education and Culture in Uruguay, Uruguayan delegate to the cultural section of MERCOSUR, and Deputy Commissioner of the Committee for the Reform of the State of Illinois Code of Education. He has also been a member of the Community Advisory Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2001, and was appointed to the CSO Programming Committee in 2006.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome such a distinguished host to the WCJS Radio family.  Tune into Fiesta! every Sunday from 3 - 4 pm Eastern, and every Saturday afternoon from 4 - 5 pm Eastern.



 

ELBIO BARILARI

Elbio Barilari Host of Fiesta! Sunday, 3 - 4 pm Eastern; Saturday, 4 - 5 pm Eastern













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