The Team
Flavio Rodrigues
Tour Guide
Flavio Rodrigues is an internationally acclaimed flamenco guitarist from Brazil. He lived, studied and performed in Spain for twenty years with some of the top names in flamenco, such as Manolo Sanlúcar, Gerardo Núñez and Rafael Riqueni.
He has performed, collaborated and recorded with some of the top names in music in over 50 countries.
In addition to performing on numerous artists’ albums, Flavio has also released several of his own albums. His album “Anyway” premiered at the 30th Anniversary Festival de la Guitarra de Córdoba with several big names such as Paco de Lucia, Deep Purple, Leo Brower, Duo Assad, David Russell, Mark Knopfler, and many others.
Just a few of Flavio’s other accomplishments…
- Winner of 3 Awards at “Festival de Música de Madrid” (FestiMad – Spain, 2011)
- “Best Flamenco Artist Award”
- “Newcomer Award”
- “Guitar Hero’s Audience Award” – “Best Live Performance”
- Winner of the “100 Latinos Award” along with celebrities like Mario Vargas Llosa, Alfredo Di Stefano and Carlos Baute.
- Flamenco guitar supervisor of Zorro the musical produced by Isabel Alon Day and directed by Chris Renshaw with original music by the Gipsy Kings and John Cameron which premiered in London’s West End on June 30 at the Garrick Theater in 2008
- He was guitarist, composer, and musical Director of the Rafael Amargo’s company for seven years of six different shows, including Amargo, Poeta in New York, Íntimo, Enramblao and Tiempo Muerto, performing in the most important theaters and festivals.
- Nominated at the eighth max awards of scenic arts in the categories “Best Original Music” and “Best Musical Director” for the show and ran below Rafael Amargo’s company in 2004.
Flavio continues to perform all over the world. When he is not on tour he loves to spend time with his wife and kids. He also enjoys nature hikes, horseback riding, swimming at the beach, table tennis, good Spanish food, non-alcoholic beer, pizza and chocolate!
One of the many things that Flavio loves about leading the La Ruta De La Guitarra tour of Spain is seeing people living out a dream that they wouldn’t be able to live without this trip. When he sees the difference in their eyes and their lives before and after…it is priceless.
Steve Pederson
Tour Guide
Steve began his musical journey as a piano player and switched to guitar at age 15. After several years playing rock, blues and pop music on acoustic and electric guitar, he took up classical guitar. He studied with O. Nicholas Raths for a time before attending the University of Minnesota where he majored in Classical Guitar Performance under the direction of Jeffrey Van and James McGuire.
Steve has performed around the Midwestern region of the United States, performing both as a classical guitarist as well as with various worship bands.
He has produced multiple albums, including a solo classical guitar album (Au Naturale), a positive rock album (The Dream Highway) and a multiple-artist worship album (Through Water and Fire).
A huge fan of Isaac Albeniz’s music, Steve has always dreamed of playing his songs in the cities they were named after; Granada, Seville, Cadiz, Mallorca, etc. On Steve’s first trip with La Ruta De La Guitarra, he was able to play Granada in Granada and study Seville in Seville under the tutelage of classical guitar legend José Mariá Gallardo del Rey.
Steve was so impacted and transformed by his first experience traveling to Spain with La Ruta De La Guitarra that he jumped at the chance to partner with Flavio to help continue the experience for other guitarists.
Steve also has a deep love for spirituality, personal development and supporting others. He has taught tens of thousands of people how to meditate and affirm themselves in a positive way. He has a diploma in Modern Applied Psychology and is certified as a Master Mindfulness Practitioner, a Master NLP Practitioner and a Life Coach. He is also trained in EFT Tapping and SIBAM Trauma therapy.
Steve lives in Chicago, IL, USA with his wife Stephanie and two daughters Christa and Carley, all of whom he considers his greatest joy.
Steve is an avid fan of the outdoors. He enjoys going for walks outside, yes, even in the bitter cold Chicago winters, bike riding as often as possible, listening to podcasts, playing billiards, cribbage, listening to classic rock and Classical music. He loves grilling, cooking, making fresh salsa, herbal tea, Arnold Palmers, Belgian wheat ale, merlot, photography – especially of the outdoors, reading, journaling and meditation.