Translate:
Concert Guitarist Flamenco Composer
"An amazing guitarist who will blow your tree-climbing Pacific Northwest minds with his guitar" -Corvallis Advocate
About
Bio
Berto Boyd began his musical training on the piano at age 5 and has been playing guitar for over 30 years. A rigorous musician and a careful researcher, Berto has studied in Spain and performed throughout the United States with some of the world’s finest Flamenco, Classical and Jazz artists. Born into a family of artists, which includes famed lead singer, Brandon Boyd of the multi-platinum band Incubus, he is one of the rare and few Americans who has dedicated his musical dreams to mastering the art of the Spanish guitar and composing original Flamenco music.
Currently, Berto resides in Cebu, Philippines with his wife and daughter. Prior to his recent move to Southest Asia, He lived in Portland, Oregon where he was Musical Director for Flamenco Pacifico, Musical Director of Arte y Pasion (San Antonio, Texas), the Artistic Director of the Corvallis Guitar Society, and founder of the CorvallisSk8School. Berto’s debut album “Esmeralda” was released in 2003 featuring all original Flamenco compositions. In 2017, he released the debut album “Convivencia” with his group Flamenco Pacifico which was nominated for “Best World/Global Fusion Album of 2017” by One World Music Awards. In 2020, Berto signed with Latin-American Classical label Caoba Records. Berto has artist endorsements with Shubb Capos, Royal Classics Strings (Spain), MiniFlex Mics, The2Mic, and Alba Guitar Beads. In Berto's free time he enjoys transcribing music and teaching skateboarding (OGSK8School) and of course skateboarding at the world-famous Burnside Skatepark.
Recent Concert Experience
In November 2022, Berto had his Opera debut in the Denyce Graves' production of “Carmen” for the Portland Opera. Earlier this year, he served as co-musical director of the San Antonio, TX based dance Company Arte y Pasión. Their two spring tours feature top caliber artists from Spain such as dancers - Belén Maya, Daniel Caballero, guitarist Jose Manuel Alconchel and gypsy singer Jose Cortez. In 2021, his group "Pacific Northwest's Beloved Flamenco Pacifico" just wrapped up their first tour since the pandemic with a standout performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Elizabethan Theatre. During the shutdown, Berto enjoyed composing/recording at home and doing collaborations with fellow artists such as Adam Del Monte's "Relampinos" (Virtual Guitar Orchestra) and good friend Ben Woods (Tangos Collab). In 2019 he performed with the Grammy-Award winning guitarist William Kanengiser in the West Coast debut of "The Walls" by Sergio Assad with the PSU Guitar Orchestra and performed on the same bill as the Los Angeles Quartet (LAGQ) and Adam Del Monte in a benefit concert to help victims of the Paradise Camp Fire. Additionally in 2019, Berto toured with Flamenco Pacifico in Washington and Idaho and also debuted the new guitar series Siempre La Guitarra with virtuoso Classical guitarist Cameron O'Connor. Finally in 2019, Berto performed selections of Suite Avalon by Jose Luis de la Paz with the Oakland Youth Symphony directed by Omid Zoufonoun with orchestral arrangements by Alex Conde. In 2018 he was a featured soloist with the Salem Philharmonia Orchestra with his virtuosic interpretation of the Concierto en Re Op.99 by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and performed at the Ashland World Music Festival in Lithia Park with Flamenco Pacifico. In 2017, he performed in the finale concert of Chintimini Chamber Music Festival Classical works by Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Boccherini with a string quartet
Early Concert Career
In 2015, Berto was commissioned to transcribe the monumental guitar score for Avalon – Suite for Flamenco guitar and Chamber Orchestra by Jose Luis de la Paz, which he performed during its’ debut at the Miami Dade Auditorium. Also 2015, Berto opened for the Gipsy Kings at Britt Fest with the newly formed Flamenco Pacifico and performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Oregon Country Fair. In 2016, Flamenco Pacifico did their first tour performing at Pistol River Concert Series, Oregon Country Fair and the SOU Recital Hall. In 2014, Berto shared the bill and stage with long-time friend Ben Woods in “Flamenco Guitar – Past * Present * and Future” at the Jewelbox Theater in Seattle, WA. In 2009, Berto was commissioned to write and record the music for dancer Daniela Zermeño who had won the coveted title of "Spirit of Fiesta" for the Old Spanish Days Fiesta in Santa Barbara, CA. Berto was Co-Musical Director/Guitarist for “Calle Flamenca” with Bailes Ferrer in Miami 2006, Musical Director/Guitarist for “Flamenco en Concierto” and “Tarde Flamenca” at the Fountain Theater in Hollywood, CA 2006, and Musical Director for “Arte y Pasion” with award winning Flamenco dancer Timo Nuñez at the Center Stage Theater Santa Barbara, CA 2004.
Education & Mentors
Private study has been an integral part of Berto's ongoing education. In 1999, Berto traveled to Sanlucar, Spain to study with the famed Flamenco guitarist/composer/recording artist Gerardo Nuñez. In 2003, Berto met his good friend and mentor – virtuoso guitarist & composer, from Huelva, Spain, Jose Luis de la Paz (former musical director for the “Ballet of Cristina Hoyos” for 10 years) in Mendocino, CA. In the United States, Berto has attended and participated in master classes with Grammy award winner David Russell, Christopher Parkening, Pepe Romero, Gerardo Nunez, Manuel Barrueco, Juan Manuel Cañizares, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, and Antonio Rey. He has also studied music theory and analysis formally at Ventura College with Dr. Burns Taft, composition with Grammy nominated composer Miguel de Aguila, Robert Lawson, Luis Muñoz, and Adam del Monte. Classical Guitar studies with Carlos Gonzales, Matthew Grief of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Tavi Jinariu, and James Bishop Edwards. Brazilian Jazz studies with Chris Judge (Gille Apap & The Transylvanian Mountain Boys), and Jazz Guitar with John Payne. During the pandemic (2020-2021), Berto had the chance to study via zoom with renowned Spanish Flamenco composer Pepe Justicia (Malaga), the young hotshot virtuoso Javier Conde (Madrid), and with sought out guitarist/composer Alvaro Martinete (Granada). Currently in 2022, Berto is being mentored (Flamenco composition) by the genius gypsy composer Pedro Cortez from NYC.
EARLY PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Berto started his full-time music career in 1994 at just 19 years of age. He began teaching at local music stores such as McCabes Music, Heck Music Center, and Henson's music store in Ventura, CA. Berto also taught briefly at Ventura Community College, and through Parks and Rec programs in the cities of Santa Paula and Santa Barbara. In the early 2000's, Berto Boyd became recognized as one of the top professionals in the music industry. As a former music broker/owner of Boyd Music Services and BertoFlamenco Productions in Santa Barbara, CA, he regularly employed over 35 of Southern California's finest Classical, Jazz and Flamenco musicians for many high-end private events, corporate events, and for many well-known celebrities.
CORPORATE CLIENTS:
Berto held regular weekly gigs at the Four Seasons Biltmore and Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara for more than 8 years. He worked tirelessly performing over 500 weddings and numerous private events for several music booking agencies throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Some of his corporate clients included: American Express, AOL, Blue Cross, BMW, Bank of America, Bailey Banks & Biddle, Big Speak Inc, Brooks Institute, Chevrolet, Clearwater Centre Condos, Corridan & Co., Direct Relief Int., Dreamworks, Deckers Outdoor, Intel, I.D.O. Events Inc, Firestone Walker, Home & Garden, Martin & Weyrich, Morgan Stanley, Montecito Property Company, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Palms Imaging, Sony, State Farm, Tepper Incentive & Meeting Services, The Branding Farm, Wells Fargo, and World Savings.
CELEBRITY CLIENTS:
During Berto's residency at Bacara Resort and Spa, he met and performed for many celebrities in private venues and the homes of such as Diane Lane and Josh Brolin (He played Thanos's wedding!), Barbara Streisand, Ted Danson, Oprah Winfrey, Peter Gallagher, Marisa Tomei and Kate Beckingsale, Katie Holmes and Ryan Reynolds, William Baldwin, Brooke Shields, Pink AKA - Alecia Moore, Steve-O, Matt LeBlanc, Alanis Morissette, Fairuza Balk, Dennis Miller, Hillary Swank, Troy Aikman, George Thorougood, Michael Keaton, and Tim Allen.
Berto's Music Publications
Flamenco/Classical
Modern Flamenco Style
Modern Flamenco Style
Berto's 1st publication of 2022 featuring a standout Flamenco 5-note tremolo inspired by F. Tarrega.
Modern Flamenco Style
Modern Flamenco Style
Modern Flamenco Style
Berto's latest single "Mariposa" Has lots of guitarists talking about these great melodies set over lush Brazilian Jazz harmonies in a Flamenco setting.
Modern Flamenco Style
Modern Flamenco Style
Sueño del Minero (Jaleo)
Berto recently performed this at GSI in Santa Monica. A fun and challenging piece in A altered phrygian. Great Alzapua and picado ending (Intermediate/Advanced)
Sueño del Minero (Jaleo)
Essential Flamenco Studies (Berto Transcriptions)
Sueño del Minero (Jaleo)
One of Berto's most loved melodies by concert-goers now available for digital download. Arranged for Guitar and Flute.
Technique Book (Original Studies)
Essential Flamenco Studies (Berto Transcriptions)
Essential Flamenco Studies (Berto Transcriptions)
A series of original etudes that have helped mold my hands into the player that I am today. It is my philosophy that you need to exhaust every way to play a scale. To cross train! (Intermediate/Advanced)
Essential Flamenco Studies (Berto Transcriptions)
Essential Flamenco Studies (Berto Transcriptions)
Essential Flamenco Studies (Berto Transcriptions)
Berto and Jose have a long history of collaboration from single transcriptions to conciertos! This book shows what molded the hands of Jose Luis the virtuoso from Huelva, Spain. (Intermediate/Advanced)
Artist Endorsements
Shubb Capos
Royal Classics Strings
Royal Classics Strings
“In the world of Flamenco guitar there are 3 types of capos:
1) Traditional cejillas which may look pretty, but limit your left hand movement,
2) The cheap strap on kind that ruin your french polish,
3) And then there is Shubb, the best capo on the planet! Perfect intonation, slim design, it just doesn’t get any better!”
- Berto Boyd
Royal Classics Strings
Royal Classics Strings
Royal Classics Strings
"The Voice of Your Guitar"
Handmade Strings from Spain!
"RC Strings stretch in faster than any strings I’ve ever played. I know I can depend on these strings in any concert setting!"
- Berto Boyd
The2Mic
Miniflex Microphones
Miniflex Microphones
"The2Mic™ is the cutting edge high-end microphone that is changing the game in the world of Classical guitar amplification. The2Mic™ was created by lifetime musician, master luthier, and inventor, Ken Donnell. Berto is an endorsed artist alongside artists such as the LAGQ (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet), Adam Delmonte, Jack Cimo, Jose Luis de la Paz.
Miniflex Microphones
Miniflex Microphones
Miniflex Microphones
"MiniFlex is the perfect fit for the uncompromising guitarist!”
-Berto Boyd
The Miniflex Model 1 has been my workhorse internal microphone for 10+ years. I get so many compliments on my sound when I play my Lester Devoe which has this mic. If you can't afford The2Mic and want something simple with a 1/4" jack then this is the mic for you! Check my artist profile below for the full review and my personal endorsement!