Fernando Ortega

==Biography==
Ortega was born and raised in [[Albuquerque]], [[New Mexico]], near the banks of the [[Rio Grande]]. He started learning piano at eight years of age.<ref name=Zoba>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1999/january11/9t1084.html Zoba, Wendy Murray. "The Hard Songs of Fernando Ortega", ''Christianity Today'', January 11, 1999]</ref> Through his father's work with the [[United States Department of State]], he also spent time in [[Ecuador]] and [[Barbados]]. His family lived in [[Chimayó, New Mexico]], for eight generations, a legacy cited as an influence on his music.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Schmitt|first=Jenny Lind|title=Singing and sojourning - WORLD|url=https://world.wng.org/2018/09/singing_and_sojourning|access-date=2020-08-24|website=world.wng.org|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201150518/https://world.wng.org/2018/09/singing_and_sojourning|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ortega graduated from Valley High School and the [[University of New Mexico]], where he received his bachelor's degree in music education. He is a member and former worship leader at an [[Anglican Church in North America|Anglican]] church in Albuquerque.<ref name="ortega-anglican">{{cite web |last1=Gregor |first1=Ralinda |title=NOTED CHRISTIAN ARTIST PART OF NEW CHURCH IN NEW MEXICO |url=https://anglicanchurch.net/noted-christian-artist-part-of-new-church-in-new-mexico/ |publisher=American Anglican Council |date=May 14, 2010}}</ref>

It is from his heritage and classical training at the University of New Mexico that Ortega derives his sound, embracing [[country music|country]], [[classical music|classical]], [[Celtic music|Celtic]], [[Latin American music|Latin American]], [[world music|world]], [[contemporary folk music|modern folk]] and rustic hymnody.