On October 1st, The Shrine in New York will host Alexander “Sandy” Ortega, a composer and guitarist whose life has been dedicated to chasing sound with both discipline and passion. The one-hour concert, set for 7 to 8 p.m., isn’t just another performance — it’s a window into the world Sandy Ortega has been building for decades.
Born and raised in New York, Ortega carries the roots of Andalusian Spain in his music while channeling the grit and pulse of his city. At 66, he stands as proof that artistry doesn’t follow a timeline. He picked up the guitar seriously only ten years ago, diving into years of rigorous practice that transformed him into a virtuoso with a repertoire of 41 original compositions. That alone makes this Shrine appearance more than a recital — it’s the unveiling of a body of work sculpted through persistence and faith.
Ortega’s playing lands somewhere between the intimacy of classical guitar and the fire of gypsy tradition. His pieces stretch beyond performance into something closer to confession — you feel the weight of history, the tug of ancestry, and the presence of a man who insists that music is still capable of transcendence. “My hands are not my own,” Ortega says, and it’s clear he means it.
Audiences who’ve seen him at the New York Public Library concerts know the pull of his music in intimate settings. At The Shrine, that energy will expand—a chance to witness a guitarist at the height of his personal journey, still hungry, still pushing.
October 1st isn’t just a date on the calendar for Ortega; it’s another chapter in a life of sound, offered to anyone ready to listen.