About Cithara Sancta

The mission and passion for classical guitar, and Mary

Cithara Sancta (CS) was founded in 2020 by Fred Vasquez, New York City classical guitarist, arranger, and music educator in memory of his wife, Lorraine and for the Virgin Mary. Fred was profoundly affected by the Virgin Mary int he wake of his wife, Lorraine's suffering and death from pancreatic cancer in 2019. Not being a person of faith, nevertheless, Fred prayed fervently to the Virgin Mary and he felt his prayers were answered. Mary is real and is the Mediatrix of graces for all humanity. Now, everything Fred does is for the Virgin Mary, including his life as a classical guitarist, and his creation, CS. Because he is a recently-retired New York City public high school music educator, Fred is now able to continue his passion for playing classical guitar and dedicating his time practicing new works, arranging and commissioning music for Cithara Sancta

The Mission

Cithara Sancta

Fred wants to “re-envision” music through the classical guitar and return it to its divine source, which is God. By making classical guitarists aware of the sacred potential of their instrument, he wants to forge new roads for the classical guitar toward the spiritual.

The classical guitar has been virtually absent in Roman Catholic Church music. This needs to change, especially since the classical guitar has a connection to the Bible with Jubal and King David. String instruments were played by both these Old Testament figures.

Also, Pope Francis encourages varied and untried ways of evangelizing God’s people. He calls music, “An instrument of evangelization to the extent that you bear witness to the depth of the Word of God, which touches people’s hearts, and to the extent that you assist in the celebration of the Sacraments, in particular the Holy Eucharist, allowing us to perceive the beauty of Paradise.”

Fred believes that the classical guitar can touch people’s minds, hearts, and souls to bring them closer to God, Mary, and the saints and truly let them see, feel, touch, and smell Paradise.

Fred wants to use this stringed biblical instrument, to attract youth, devoted lay people, priests, the religious sisters and brothers, and those entering the priesthood and religious life.

The classical guitar can attract students into sacred liturgical music programs in colleges, universities and conservatories. As of now, these programs are amazingly non-existent.

Fred wants to follow the credo of J. S. Bach who said, “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”

Fred wishes to take this credo and channel it through the noble and humble classical guitar.

Fred Vasquez

Fred, was born in New York City in 1954 to a Peruvian father, and an Argentinian mother. As a result, he is a true bi-lingual. He is the oldest of seven siblings. Fred was a teacher for the New York City Department of Education for 22 years. He also taught music at the Brooklyn/Queens Conservatory of Music (now defunct) for 15 years and chaired the Guitar Department there. In addition, Fred taught young guitarists at the Brooklyn College Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts. Music history was taught by Fred at Stony Brook University (SUNY), Queens Borough Community College (CUNY), and Laguardia Community College (CUNY), and Newtown High School, his principal place of employment.