Mention Sérgio Assad to a guitarist and watch the reaction: that’s what awe-inspired humility looks like. His quite exceptional artistry and uncanny ensemble playing come from both a family rich in Brazilian musical tradition and from studies with the very best guitarists in the Americas.

Now, Assad is turning to orchestral composition. And symphonic audiences across the globe are all the richer for it.

Late this Spring, the members of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet—virtuosos in their own right— were in Delaware, guests of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and its music director David Amado, to perform and record Assad’s composition “Interchange,” which he had composed especially for the Quartet.

The News Journal sent a photographer to the rehearsals (see those photos in a new window) and Latino USA sent Diantha Parker to talk with members of the Quartet, with Amado, and —later— with the composer about a work that she discovered is all about the drive found in music, especially Latin music.

Right-click here to download an .mp3 of this segment.