About

American Record Guide calls the Folias Flute and Guitar Duo “daring in self written music.” Having worked together for over ten years, this Grand Rapids, MI based husband and wife duo of flutist Carmen Maret and guitarist Andrew Bergeron continue to break new ground as performers and composers with a list of over 40 self-published compositions.

The nomadic duo has played on stages around the globe including in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, and Guinee, West Africa. Carmen and Andrew have self-booked and promoted tours extensively throughout North America which have included festivals in Alaska and Canada and milongas in over 25 tango communities throughout the United States.

Carmen Maret and Andrew Bergeron met at Michigan State University in 2002 while studying for their combined Master’s Degrees in music composition, performance, and ethnomusicology. Their collaborations were initially based upon playing Andrew’s original music and Carmen’s tango arrangements but they soon blended these elements together to create their first concept album Waterway which drew inspiration from an Artist Residency at Isle Royale National Park.

Folias’ four critically acclaimed albums on the Blue Griffin Recording label show their versatility as musicians. They have a strong connection to South American folk, Argentine tango and to the music of Astor Piazzolla. Taking inspiration from Piazzolla, Maret and Bergeron’s original compositions are rooted in both the rigors of classical music and in the freedom of improvisational music. About Folias’ album Marufo Vega Fanfare magazine said, “Carmen Maret and Andrew Bergeron are facile players…They draw on tango rhythms and melodies sometimes; at other times they write with a scenic sensitivity…mysterious…charming…evocative.”

Carmen and Andrew also curate foliasmusic.com, the website where they publish and sell their own sheet music and CDs, host a podcast and blog. On foliasmusic.com you will also discover their not so secret identities as foodies and nature lovers.

Andrew Bergeron is instructor of guitar, ear training, and music theory at Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University and Aquinas College. Andrew is a founding performer and composer with the Grand Rapids Guitar Quartet which feature his new works and arrangements. Andrew 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. He 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’s main guitar teacher was Brian Morris at Grand Valley State University. He also studied with Nicholas Goluses and Scott Tennant while at the Eastman Guitar Festival. Andrew’s main composition teachers were Charles Ruggiero and Bob Schechtman and he studied theory with Sherman Van Solkema.

Carmen Maret is an endorsed Pearl Flute artist and instructor of flute at Aquinas College. Carmen 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 the founder of the Grand Rapids Tango Community. Carmen Maret’s primary teachers were Mary Posses and Richard Sherman. She attended the Eastern Music Festival in 1999 and also studied with Peter Lloyd at his summer flute seminar in St. Andrew’s, Scotland in 2000. Carmen has performed in masterclasses with William Bennett and Julia Bogorad and attended masterclasses with Carol Wincenc, James Galway, and Emmanuel Pahud. Carmen’s jazz teachers include Bobby Watson and Ron Blake. She also studied tango music with bassist Pablo Aslan.

Music

Piazzolla, tango, original compositions and classical arrangements for flute and guitar.

Videos

Audio