Puerto Rican Cuatro Festival November 14, 2008

Since 1998, the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance has been producing the Cuatro Festival, which affords the Puerto Rican community and other diverse populations an opportunity to come together under one roof and experience the marvel of cuatro music. This year's featured performers include Pedro Guzman y Jibaro Jazz and Alvin Medina, plus Jose Nogueras & the Chicago Cuarto Orchestra. The Cuatro Festival and Concert is a multi-faceted educational arts program related to the Puerto Rican instrument - the Cuatro Guitar (El Cuatro). The Cuatro is an instrument created by the indigenous Puerto Ricans in 1852 and is revered by the Puerto Rican community as an important part of its history. The Festival and Concert reaches over 2,500 youth and adults in collaboration with the Chicago Public Schools.