We conducted an interview with Mr. Alejandro Gómez Ovares, a classical guitarist from Costa Rica, who performed at the Friendship Concert Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between Costa Rica and Japan in August this year.
◆ Watch the interview highlights below
Alejandro Gómez Ovares (Classical Guitar)
A classical guitarist from Costa Rica, Alejandro Gómez Ovares studied at the University of Costa Rica and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg in Germany. He has earned international acclaim, winning top prizes at the Golden Classical Music Awards in New York and the Guitar Olympiad in Greece. In addition to his career as a performer, he teaches at the University of Costa Rica and works to connect the world through music by collaborating with musicians both in Costa Rica and abroad, as well as by organizing music festivals.
◆Watch the Full Concert Video of “The Friendship Concert Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between Costa Rica and Japan”
MIN-ON: Thank you for sharing your time to be interviewed. Congratulations on winning the first prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards in New York! Could you please share with us how you felt at the moment you won the award?
Alejandro Gómez Ovares: Thank you for inviting me to this interview. Winning the award was a very emotional moment for me because it’s such a great honor. It has also had a significant impact on my career and aspirations for the future.
MIN-ON: How do you see the power of music and the importance of cultural exchange?
Alejandro Gómez Ovares: As the founder of the Min-On Concert Association also believes, it is essential to strengthen music education not only in my country but around the world, because music holds tremendous value. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience music—not only on a professional level, but also on an empathetic one.
Music allows us to connect with one another and to see life, art, and even hardship from new perspectives.
It helps us understand how another person—someone different from ourselves—feels and believes. That is why I believe music education is a vital part of education as a whole.
MIN-ON: Today you will perform Esperanza, composed in 2023. We understand that this piece holds special significance for you. Could you share your thoughts on it?
Alejandro Gómez Ovares: Esperanza is a very special piece for me. I composed it for the most vulnerable people of society. In Costa Rica, as in many countries, we face challenges such as drug addiction and alcoholism. I see music as a way to find the light and offer a path to overcome these difficulties. This piece also seeks to reach out to people in such situations from a humanistic perspective. Esperanza aims to connect us as human beings from the heart, emphasizing our shared humanity. I hope it will resonate with all listeners, including the audience here in Japan.
MIN-ON: What is your dream as a musician and as an educator?
Alejandro Gómez Ovares: At first, my dream was simply to share my music with audiences around the world. I feel I have achieved this to some extent through steady, humble effort, staying fully committed and busy with my work. Now, my dream has evolved: I hope to inspire others to play music, to enjoy it, and to open their minds to different kinds of music—not just the more commercial or familiar pieces, but also music that may be more complex or challenging. It is very important to give such music an opportunity to be heard. I recognize that Japan already plays a role as a cultural ambassador through music, but it is equally important to support artists from our own country. Not just in rock or pop, but also in classical and contemporary music. Giving music like this an opportunity to be heard will broaden one’s perspectives. Music is a language, and the more we broaden it, the more deeply we can communicate from the heart.
MIN-ON: Could you give a message to the youth in Japan and around the world about pursuing dreams and hope?
Alejandro Gómez Ovares: I have only been in Japan for a few days, but I already see that it is a very creative and unique country. The young people here are talented, articulate, and well-educated. I encourage you to continue in that spirit, while also having confidence in your own culture and your own country.
It is important to stay true to your values and identity, even while being influenced by other countries. Of course, we can appreciate the positive aspects of every culture, and Japan has many to offer. I hope that young Japanese people can see their country as it truly is—a remarkable nation admired around the world—and that this recognition will inspire them to move forward with confidence and pride.
◆ Concert News
◆ Min-On Music Journey: Costa Rica Edition
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