Rene Hugo y sus Amigos

Rene Hugo y sus Amigos is a group brought together by Rene Hugo Sanchez, a Peruvian musician/poet who has a vast knowledge of South American musical traditions. We have performed together for 3 years, including such high profile events as the 2004 World Weightlifting Championships Opening Ceremony in Vancouver, Vancouver’s Cityfest, and the 2005 International Folk Song Arts Festival in Nanning, Guangxi, China.

Rene Hugo y sus Amigos has recorded two CDs: Fiesta en Vancouver and Elishka. The song ‘Rio Apurimac’ of the first CD, Fiesta en Vancouver, was nominated as the favourite song of the 2004 Fairchild Radio and TV Show. The same year, Vancouver’s Latin Community nominated the director of the band, Rene, as the ‘Artist of the Year’. The main repertory is based on original songs in a style of Latin party music, although we also cover a few of our favorite traditional songs. The lyrics are mostly in Spanish, a few in English. The instrumentation is a unique combination of classical guitars, saxophone, cajon, bass, and some Andean flutes.

Rene Hugo y sus Amigos performed for the first time as an ensemble at the VCC School of Music, its Alma Mater. They played a selection of songs showcasing Peruvian folkloric music traditions. Now, RHysA is known for its innovative arrangements of South American folk music styles with elements of jazz and flamenco music.