Concert Flamenco guitarist/composer Robert Boyd aka Berto Chico of BertoFlamenco Productions is recognized as one of the top professionals in the music and private event industry. Berto began his musical training on the piano at age 5
and has been studying guitar for 25 years. A rigorous musician and
careful researcher, Berto has studied and performed in Spain and the
United States, with some of the world's finest Flamenco artists. Born
into a family of artists, which includes famed lead singer Brandon Boyd of the multi-platinum band Incubus, he is one of the rare and few
Americans who has dedicated his musical dreams and professional career
to the art of Flamenco. He is the founder & musical director of
Arte y Pasion Flamenco Music and Dance Company and BertoFlamenco Music
and Dance Ensemble, which both consist of a dynamic 4 to 10 piece
ensemble. Additionally, he is the founder of the upcoming annual
Buenaventura Guitar Festival and the Buenaventura Guitar Duo with
Carlos Gonzales.
In the span of 15 years Berto and his unique music company have performed and produced concerts and events throughout the United States for many well-known clients. 
CORPORATE CLIENTS:
American Express, AOL, Blue Cross, BMW, Bank of America, Bailey Banks & Biddle, Big Speak Inc, Brooks Institute, Chevrolet, Clearwater Centre Condos, Corridan & Co., Direct Relief Int., Dreamworks, Deckers Outdoor, I.D.O. Events Inc, Firestone Walker, Home & Garden, Martin & Weyrich, Morgan Stanley, Montecito Property Company, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Palms Imaging, Sony, State Farm, Tepper Incentive & Meeting Services, The Branding Farm, Wells Fargo, and World Savings.
CELEBRITIES:
Barbara Streisand, Diane Lane and Josh Brolin, Ted Danson, Oprah Winfrey, Peter Gallagher, Marisa Tomei and Kate Beckingsale, Katie Holmes and Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Baldwin, Brooke Shields, Pink, Steve-O, Matt LeBlanc, Alanis Morissette, Fairuza Balk, Dennis Miller, Hillary Swank, Troy Aikman, George Thorougood, Michael Keaton, and Tim Allen.
LOCATIONS/VENUES:
MGM Grand Las Vegas, Four Seasons (BevHills,SB,LA,SF,SD,MEX,HI), Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, Bacara Resort and Spa, Castle Green Pasadena,The Ebell of Los Angeles, La Quinta Resort Palm Springs, Madonna Inn, Montecito Country Club, El Encanto Hotel, Inn of the Spanish Garden, Wine Cask, Stella Mares Restaurant & Event Center, El Paseo Restaurant, La Cumbre Country Club, Ojai Valley Inn, Spanish Hills Country Club, The Ranch House, Pierpont Inn, Maravilla Gardens, Mandalay Bay Resort, Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort, Paso Robles Inn, Clearwater Centre Condos Florida, Presidio Historic Chapel, Ventura City Hall, UCSB Multicultural Center, SB Historical Society, SB Courthouse and Sunken Gardens, SB Natural History Museum, SB Zoological Gardens, SB Polo & Racquet Club, SB Old Mission, SB Greek Orthodox Church, Unitarian Society, San Ysidro Ranch, Neverland Ranch, Lotus Land, Hahn Estate, Chase Palm Park, Rose Story Farm, Hilltop Farms, Kabbalah Synagogue Los Angeles, Topa Tower Club, Soho Music Club, Marian Theater, Center Stage Theater, Fountain Theater in Hollywood, Cabrillo Arts Pavillion, Victoria Theater (SB), Broward Center for the Fine Arts (Miami), Tuscon Performing Arts Center (AZ), Firestone Vineyards and Crossroads Estate, Gainey Winery, Villa Toscana Winery, Zaca Mesa Winery, Sunstone Winery, Rideau Winery, Melville Winery, Castoro Cellars, Laetitia Winery, Brander Winery, and Cayucos Creek Barn.
RECENT CONCERT EXPERIENCE:
In 2009, Berto was commissioned to compose the opening ceremony music for this year's Spirit of Fiesta at "Old Spanish Days" in Santa Barbara, California. The debut of the Guajira "Soniquete de mi Corazon" was held at Santa Barbara's Old Mission on Wednesday, August 5th, 8p.m., in front of a live audience of 20,000 plus people, and was also televised on KCET Channel 9. Additional compositions will be performed by dancer Daniela Zermeño and her company Fuego Gitano at the Sunken Gardens - Santa Barbara Courthouse on August 6th, 7th and 8th, 2009 (Also see News & Events page).
In 2008, BertoFlamenco y Ritmo Gitano were invited by PCPA Theaterfest to be the headline entertainment for "An Evening of Guitar" at the Marian Theater in Santa Maria, California. Berto shared the stage with his first classical guitar teacher, Maestro Carlos Gonzales for the Santa Clarita Symphony. This prompted the start of the Buenaventura Guitar Duo.
In 2006-2007, he premiered the two productions "Flamenco en Concierto," and "Tarde Flamenca" at both the Unitarian Society in Santa Barbara and the infamous "Fountain Theater" in Hollywood.
In July 2006, Berto was invited to share the stage and musical direction for the production "Calle Flamenca" with Spanish Maestro Jose Luis Rodriguez and Bailes Ferrer in the annual festival "Flamenco in the Sun" in Miami. During his residency in Miami, he taught master classes and workshops at Miami Dade's "Broward Center for the Fine Arts." In October, he was the musical director/guitarist for dancer Carmen de Torres direct from Sevilla in concert at UCSB entitled "An Evening with Carmen de Torres", which also premiered at the Santa Barbara Festival of Art.
In 2004-2005, he premiered the three productions "Alma Flamenco," "Berto y Flamenco Vivo," and "Arte y Pasion" at the Center Stage Theater and the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara. In August, he wrote and performed music for the production "The Painting Comes to Life" by the Profant Foundation for the Arts.
From 2000-2005, Berto was been the guitarist & musical director for Linda Vega's dance company "Danzas de España", and from 2004-2009 he has served as guitarist & Musical Director for the Zermeño Family's "Fuego Gitano."
In 2003, he was invited as the featured soloist of the 7th annual world concert series in Mendocino, California. He also toured for several weeks with Celtic/Classical artist and Celeste Ray her group "Celtic Legend Band" throughout Arizona. Additionally in 2003, Berto released his debut album "Esmeralda".
EDUCATION:
Berto's unique musical education started at age 5 on the piano. After 2 years of formal piano instruction, his teacher realized that he had been playing solely by ear and had fooled everyone thinking that he could read music. He had already played in several recitals and was learning Beethoven, Scott Joplin, etc.. His piano teacher told his mother that he had the tremendous gift of perfect pitch. At age 10, Berto made the transition from piano to guitar and the love affair had begun. Throughout his teens, Berto played in many bands ranging from Rock, to Funk, Blues, Jazz, Metal, and Jam Bands until he found his true love, The Classical Spanish Guitar. He studied music formally at Ventura College under the guidance of Maestros Carlos Gonzales and Matthew Grief of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet for 3 years. After his first debut recital on the Classical Guitar at age 20, it became apparent to his teachers that Classical music was going to stifle his creativity and passion for the guitar, so they recommended he begin studying Flamenco. Before he knew what real Flamenco was, he was already incorporating some of the advanced techniques that Flamenco players utilize to create their "Soniquete". After about 6 months of trying to find a decent Flamenco guitarist to study with, Berto was off to Spain to attend "Arte Danza y Curso Flamenco en Sanlucar de Barrameda" with the famous guitarist virtuoso and recording artist Gerardo Nuñez This experience completely transformed Berto's life. Upon his return to the U.S., with his newfound "European education", he immediately sought out dancers and singers to begin performing traditional Flamenco music and dance. Within the span of 6 short years of rigorous study, rehearsal, and performance, Berto had finally made it to the concert stage.
In 2003, Berto met his life-long friend and mentor- virtuoso Guitarist & Composer from Huelva España Jose Luis Rodriguez (musical director for the "Ballet de Cristina Hoyos" for 10 years) in Mendocino, CA.
In the United States, Berto has attended and participated in master classes with Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Juan Manuel Cañizares, Paco Jarana (musical director for Eva La Yerbabuena), Gaspar Rodriguez (musical director for the National Ballet of Spain), and Rafael Montilla (guitarist with the company of Paco Peña. He has also studied Music Theory and Analysis formally at Ventura College with Dr. Burns Taft, Composition with Miguel de Aguila and Robert Lawson, Classical Guitar with Carlos Gonzales, Matthew Grief of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Brazillian Jazz with Chris Judge (Gille Apap & The Transylvanian Mountain Boys), Jazz Guitar with John Payne, Classical Guitar with Dmitri Diatchenko, and James Edwards.
