Fanarelia Guerrero López, DMA

Adjunct Instructor of Music

Degrees

DMA in Piano Pedagogy, University of South Carolina
MM in Piano Performance, Texas State University
BM in Piano Performance, University of Costa Rica

Profile

Dr. Fanarelia Guerrero López has an active career as a piano pedagogue, soloist, and chamber musician. She has showcased her talent as a soloist in Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon, and other states across the United States. She has also performed in major venues in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. As a collaborative artist, Dr. Guerrero has worked extensively with the voice and violin departments at the University of South Carolina.

A passionate advocate for Nicaraguan and Latin American music, Dr. Guerrero is dedicated to expanding its reach to new horizons. She has undertaken research focused on rediscovering the piano music of Nicaraguan composer Luis Abraham Delgadillo. This involves cataloging and pedagogically assessing all of Delgadillo's piano works, editing manuscripts, and recording a significant portion of his compositions. This research project aligns with her mission as a Nicaraguan pianist and as a representative of her country's musical outreach and development. In 2025, she will present a program showcasing Nicaraguan music. The repertoire includes the performance of a selection of the 24 Preludes, 12 Nocturnes, and the US premiere of Luis Abraham Delgadillo's Piano Sonata.

She has been invited to present at various national and international conferences such as the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP), MTNA National Conference, MTNA Collegiate Symposium, La Frontera International Piano Conference, the Costa Rica Pianists Symposium, and the Palm Beach Atlantic University Hispanic Heritage Festival.

As an educator, Dr. Guerrero strives to cultivate well-rounded musicians, both professionally and personally. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of providing a safe and respectful education for every student. She ensures a secure environment not only in group classes but also in private lessons, allowing students to pursue their goals with confidence. Creating a healthy atmosphere through interpersonal skills is essential for fostering student development in every lesson.

As an international pedagogue, Dr. Guerrero is dedicated to creating an inclusive learning environment that values each student's unique identity. She believes in empowering students through music and by embracing their cultural backgrounds. With extensive knowledge of piano literature and ongoing research into varied cultural influences in piano music, Dr. Guerrero incorporates repertoire beyond the musical canon, enabling students to explore their peers' cultures and fostering a more inclusive and tolerant environment. By encouraging a broad repertoire, she equips students with both an extensive range of musical works and the skills to live harmoniously with others.

Dr. Fanarelia Guerrero Lopez embarked on her piano journey in her home country of Nicaragua. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the University of Costa Rica and a Master's degree in Piano Performance from Texas State University. She earned her DMA in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina, where she served as President of the MTNA-USC chapter for two years, during which they were co-recipients of the 2023 MTNA Collegiate Chapter of the Year award. She serves as an NCKP conference committee member for South America and the Iberian Peninsula and as coordinator of the International Engagement program at the Frances Clark Center.

Dr. Guerrero is currently based in the Dallas area, where she co-directs the North Texas International Piano Symposium, which aims to discover, amplify, and celebrate research in piano literature with a global resonance, particularly highlighting the works of underrepresented composers. She serves as a board member of the Dallas Music Teacher Association and is a full-time faculty member at the Centre for Musical Minds in Frisco, Texas.

Page last updated 12:22 PM, August 29, 2024