Flamenco Fever
Saturday, November 14, 2026
3:00 pm
Hosted by All Classical Radio in the Irving Levin Performance Hall
30 Guests • $100
From fiery rhythms to moments of haunting beauty, this is flamenco as it’s meant to be experienced: up close and intimate. Two dazzling guitarists, Peter Zisa and Mark Ferguson, join forces with soulful singer Diana Bright, and the electrifying footwork of Laura Onizuka in the Irving Levin Performance Hall in downtown Portland. Enjoy a spread of Spanish-inspired tapas and refreshing libations that pair perfectly with the music’s passion and flair.
- More About Laura Onizuka
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Laura Onizuka is the founder of Experience Flamenco, where she leads immersive flamenco study tours to Spain twice each year. She also teaches flamenco dance classes and workshops online and in Portland, Oregon, hosts retreats throughout the western United States, writes about flamenco, and occasionally performs. Her passion for the arts began in childhood through theater, dance, and visual art, but everything changed when she discovered flamenco. Captivated by the art form, she traveled to Spain with little preparation to study it at its source. What was meant to be a leap into the unknown became a lifelong passion that continues to shape her work today.After earning a master’s degree in education and spending several years as an elementary school teacher, Laura realized she couldn’t ignore her calling. She gradually transitioned from teaching in the classroom to teaching flamenco, organizing workshops with renowned artists from Spain, and creating unforgettable cultural experiences for others. Since launching Experience Flamenco, she has combined her love of dancing, writing, teaching, and travel to help students connect with the rich traditions of flamenco in both the United States and Spain. She believes flamenco offers endless opportunities for growth, creativity, and self-expression, and she is passionate about sharing that journey with others.
- More About Peter Zisa
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Peter Zisa is an acclaimed classical guitar performer who has performed across the country and abroad for over 50 years. The distinctive quality of his performances has been described by critics and fans as “poetic, moving, exciting, engaging, authentic, powerfully expressive, and musical.” His high performance standard and remarkable stylistic versatility add to his exceptionalness as a performer.Peter also enjoys the collaborative experience of performing chamber music with outstanding musicians. Peter was also one of the founding members of the Oregon Guitar Quartet (David Franzen, John Mery, Ian Luxton, and Peter Zisa). In these formative years of the quartet, John Mery contributed arrangements of Beethoven and Piazzolla quartets, David Franzen arranged Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four Violins, and Peter composed a set of four compositions for guitar quartet dedicated to each of the members.
In 2007, Peter formed a world music chamber ensemble “Thousand Waves”; this performance group’s repertoire includes the music from the West and East: from J.S., Bach and Mozart, to Django Rheinhardt and Piazzolla, from Michio Miyagi and Tadao Sawai to Ellington, Brubeck, and John Kaizan-Neptune. The members of the group were Yukiko Yamaguchi on koto, LeeAnn McKenna on transverse flute, and Peter Zisa on six and eight string guitar.
In his other musical collaborations, Peter has performed with other notable artists: Grammy-award artists Doug Smith and Janice Scroggin; Grammy-nominated violinist Adam LaMotte; the legendary Brazilian composer and guitarist Celso Machado; vocalist Ida Rae Cahana and Pink Martini; mandolin virtuoso Brian Oberlin; first violinist of the Glinka Quartet Dr. Tatiana Kolchanova; concert masters Mary Rowell and Andrew Ehrlich; Hall of Fame Jazz vocalists Shirley Nanette, Marilynn Keller, and LaRhonda Steele; Jazz musicians, such as Grammy-award winning pianist George Mitchell, percussionist Todd Strait, Jazz shakuhachi musician John Kaizan-Neptune, and pianist Daryl Grant; flamenco dancer Laura Onizuka and flamenco guitarist Mark Ferguson.
- More About Mark Ferguson
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Mark Ferguson is an Assistant Professor of Spanish at Pacific University (Oregon), and also a well-known flamenco dancer and guitarist. He began studying the flamenco guitar in 1995 and spent two years in Spain focusing on the art of flamenco song and dance accompaniment.Mark held a position of flamenco guitarist at the University of New Mexico and has toured with the second company of María Benítez. He is the music director for Solo Flamenco’s Arts Academy, where he teaches flamenco guitar and serves as the primary guitarist for El Cuadro Solo Flamenco.
- More About Diana Bright
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Portland-based flamenco singer Diana Bright is a vocalist, violinist, and educator whose passion for music has led her to specialize in the expressive art of flamenco cante. She has studied extensively with renowned flamenco artists in Spain, developing a deep appreciation for the rich traditions and emotional depth of Andalusian flamenco. Bright performs regularly throughout the Pacific Northwest, collaborating with leading flamenco musicians and dancers in concerts and theatrical productions.
