If you, like millions of other Americans, watched Bad Bunny’s joyful Super Bowl halftime show last night, you may have seen a familiar face among the performers: Sarasota Orchestra music director Giancarlo Guerrero.
Guerrero, a six-time Grammy winner, was shown conducting a group of young musicians as Bad Bunny made his way past the group. It was an image that mirrored Guerrero’s own career: after immigrating to Costa Rica from Nicaragua as a child, he joined the local youth symphony, then moved to the United States to study, ultimately earning degrees from Baylor University in Texas and Northwestern University in Chicago.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was the first Latin artist to deliver a performance almost entirely in Spanish at a Super Bowl halftime show. In addition to Guerrero, other guests included Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Cardi B, Karol G, Jessica Alba and Pedro Pascal also made appearances. It was a show that capped off a historic week for Bad Bunny, who won an “Album of the Year” Grammy just last week.
“Bad Bunny is a multi-talented artist who plays so many kinds of Hispanic music. It doesn’t just feel familiar, the music feels like home. It was quite an amazing experience to be a part of,” Guerrero said in a press release after the performance. “There are so many brilliant artists involved with the creation of this show, and it was beyond inspiring to work with them and watch it all come together. How exciting to be a part of it all!”…