Poway OnStage Welcomes Andy McKee and Celino Romero

The iconoclastic YouTube musician Andy McKee joins classical guitarist Celino Romaro for one-night-only to perform at Poway OnStage April 8, 2017 at 8:00pm. The difference in styles displayed by the two guitarists come together in a night marked by different approaches to the same instrument in this eclectic pairing.

Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1979, Andy McKee is a guitar player whose videos, including "Drifting, "Rylynn" and "Africa," have earned hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. McKee, a self-taught musician, grew up studying cassettes and CDs of artists as diverse as Preston Reed, Don Ross, Billy McLaughlin, Michael Hedges, Eric Johnson and DreamTheater.

Earlier in his career McKee issued three solo acoustic guitar albums while supporting himself as a guitar teacher. In 2010 McKee contributed to Lee Ritenour's CD

6 String Theory that also features guitarists such as Steve Lukather, Slash, Neal Schon, Tal Wilkenfeld and Mike Stern. In 2012 McKee played alongside Prince on his Welcome 2 Australia Tour. McKee tours extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

Celino Romero is the youngest member of the international guitar dynasty, the Romeros. Following in his family's footsteps, Romero has played classical guitar before some of the world's largest and most revered concert venues. Romero has a wide repertoire of compositions and styles, whether strumming out Spanish dance rhythms and contemporary harmonies or performing Vivaldi's "Concerto in D Major."

When Celino Romero joined the all-family Classical guitar quartet, Los Romeros, in 1990 he ushered in the third generation of the group's history. Established by Celino's grandfather, father and uncles in their native Spain, Los Romeros have been performing together since 1960 for audiences worldwide. They are regarded by the

Celino was joined 6 years laterby his cousin Lito, who stepped in to replace their grandfather. Los Romeros have performed for dignitaries worldwide, including two American Presidents, Pope John Paul II and the King of Spain. In 2007, Los Romeros were granted The Recording Academy's President's Merit Award from the Grammy Awards in honor of their artistic achievements.

In addition to touring with Los Romeros, Celino performs as a soloist in recital and with major orchestras, as well as collaborating in duets with other family members. The entire group participates in teaching master classes on guitar, and Celino is expanding his reach as an instructor over the internet, with both live and recorded instruction.

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