Jerga de las Américas:
Venezuela

María Montilva studied music and graduated from the prestigious National Conservatory of Music “Juan José Landaeta”, in Caracas, Venezuela. She specializes in popular guitar and in “cuatro” (typical Venezuelan musical instrument). She is a songwriter, singer, and music arranger. She has a long trajectory in music production and has presented in numerous venues in Venezuela such as Museo del Teclado, Museo Sacro, Museo del Transporte, Sala José Feliz Rivas, Sala de Espacios Cálidos (Teatro Teresa Carreno), Teatro Ateneo de Caracas and others. Her rich cultural background and deep knowledge of her heritage will certainly bring great value to the Venezuelan Slang presentation.

Édgar Hidalgo García is the director and lead instructor of the online interpreting school, TransInterpreting. He was also the academic coordinator of Cal State Fullerton’s Legal Interpretation Program and a former instructor at UC Riverside’s Court Interpreter Training Program. Edgar spent half of his life in South America, where he finished high school and attended college. He completed his Bachelor’s in Translation & Interpretation Studies at California State University, Long Beach and his Master’s in Spanish at California State University, Fullerton.

He initially became a Certified California State Medical Interpreter and worked several years as a staff interpreter both at Long Beach Memorial Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Orange County and in the private sector, as a freelance medical interpreter. Later, after becoming certified by the Judicial Council of California as a Court Interpreter, he became employed for the County of San Bernardino where he worked as a staff interpreter for 9 years and as a freelancer for 6 additional years. Mr. Hidalgo is an active member of interpreter organizations such as the National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT) and the American Translators Association (ATA).

He currently trains novice and seasoned interpreters to pass the State and National Certifications both in the legal and medical fields. He also provides continuing education for certified interpreters and translators in all languages.