Welcome back to Behind Greatness. We are honoured today to be speaking with Pacho Flores from Valencia, Spain, in his first interview in English. A native of San Cristobal, Venezuela and an early student of El Sistema, Pacho is a globally recognized trumpeter. He is also a leader in the blending of Latin American sounds in his compositions, with composers drafting pieces explicitly for his style.  He is also the lead artist in residence with the world’s leading brass instrument manufacturer Stomvi.

We hear about his thoughts on genius v crazy, investing for quality, the miracle of Jose Antonio Abreu’s El Sistema and the joy that the Southern Hemisphere brings to the world (of music). We learn about the trumpet as the big protagonist in music and Latin American sound, the joy and the sorrow it emotes and his personal/professional mission to show Latin culture through his repertoire. We discuss why music is “the queen of the arts”, the role of empathy in music and why dreaming for Pacho is pivotal in creating pathways.

Our warmest abrazo to our friend Dr. Vera Tiesler (ep 81) and a tip of the hat to Joan Koenig  (ep 79) and Wynton Marsalis (ep 126).