Folias Bios

Andrew Bergeron, guitar

Carmen Maret, flutes

Andrew Bergeron received his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Philosophy from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI with a focus on guitar performance, music composition and Chinese philosophy. Mr. Bergeron received his Master of Music in composition at Michigan State University School of Music where he was recipient of the “Paul Harder Composition Scholarship.” Andrew Bergeron is on staff at Grand Rapids Community College and at Aquinas College where he is a private guitar instructor and teaches the beginning guitar classes. Mr. Bergeron is also the founder of the Suzuki guitar program at Grand Rapids Community College where is has taught since 2002. Mr. Bergeron has been on staff as a church musician, co-director, and composer at Bethlehem Church in Grand Rapids, MI since 2003. Bergeron also performs with Folias, a nationally touring flute and guitar duo that specializes in original compositions and Latin American music that he co-founded with his wife flutist Carmen Maret in 2003. Mr. Bergeron’s music has been performed by the contemporary music ensemble at Michigan State University Musique 21 including his chamber work Once More (2003) and his prize winning guitar concerto Big Bend (2005) which placed first in the Michigan State University Concert Competition in 2004 and was premiered by Andrew Bergeron on solo guitar with Musique 21. Andrew Bergeron’s electronic music work, “Coming Home” was chosen to be played at the Electronic Music Midwest Festival on October 21, 2005 (www.emmfestival.org). His tango arrangements of Piazzolla’s Milonga del angel for solo flute, solo guitar and strings was premiered by Folias with the Alma Symphony in February 2007. Andrew Bergeron’s most recent premier was his setting of the Passion of Christ According to St. Luke which was performed by Folias and a chamber ensemble in Grand Rapids, MI on April 1, 2007 at Bethlehem Church. Andrew is a founding performer and composer with the Grand Rapids Guitar Quartet which performs Mr. Bergeron’s new works and arrangements throughout West Michigan. Andrew Bergeron has been a Blue Griffin Recording artist since 2004 and will release his third CD with Folias in 2008.

Andrew's Resume

Carmen Maret received her Bachelor of Music in flute performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and her Master of Music in flute performance from Michigan State University School of Music. She also received a second Master of Music degree in ethnomusicology at Michigan State University with a focus on Argentine tango music and dance. Carmen Maret is co-founder of the Grand Rapids Tango Community where she works as a tango dance teacher and tango musician. Carmen Maret is head of the Suzuki flute department for the Arts Outreach Program at Grand Rapids Community College. Ms. Maret is also on staff as a co-music director and church musician at Bethlehem Church in Grand Rapids, MI. where she is also the founder of the MAJIC (Musical Arts for Justice in the Community) Concert Series at Bethlehem Church that provides donation based classical, jazz and world music concerts to the community to raise money for social justice organizations throughout West Michigan. Carmen Maret is a member of the West Michigan Flute Orchestra’s Chamber Choir and Adult Flute Choir. In 2003, Carmen Maret joined with her husband guitarist Andrew Bergeron to form the flute and guitar duo, Folias, a nationally touring group that specializes in original compositions and Latin American music. Ms. Maret has been a Blue Griffin Recording artist since 2004 and will release her third CD with Folias in 2008.

Carmen's Resume