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Habor Conservatory

Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts
MUSIC FACULTY

DEPARTMENT HEADS
RAMON RODRIGUEZ:
(Conservatory Director)
LOUIS BAUZO (Latin percussion / department head)
MARTIN SöDERBERG, (Classical Music Director, pianist)

PIANO
CECILIA YIBIRIN
(pianist)
CARMEN FARIÑAS (pianist)
LIANY FARIÑAS (pianist)
PAUL DE SILVA (pianist)
SONNY BRAVO (pianist, composer, arranger, educator)
PABLO MAYOR (pianist, composer, arranger)
ENRIQUE HANEINE (pianist)
OSCAR CORREA
(pianist, composer, ethnomusicologist)
SOPHIE BUCHANAN (pianist)
GENE HICKS (classical piano)
GUSTAVO CASENAVE (piano)

VOICE
GUADULUPE ROSS
(soprano)
VIRGINIA HERRERA (soprano, teen chorus)
SHADIA F. ALMASRI AGUILCE (voice)

STRINGS
YRVING YERAS
(string,violins)

GUITAR
DAVID OQUENDO
(guitarist / singer / sonero )
GUSTAVO "Chacho" SCHARTZ (guitar/ tres)


BASS
GUSTAVO "Chacho" SCHARTZ
(bass/ bass guitar)
GUILLERMO E. EDGHILL (acoustic & electric bass)

REEDS
ROLANDO BRICEÑO
(saxophone /flute / clarinet)

BRASS
OMAR CASTAÑOS
(trumpet & solfeo)
GUIDO GONZALEZ (trumpet)

PERCUSSION
JOSE MADERA
(Latin percussion)
GEORGE DELGADO (Latin percussion)
GREG ASKEW (drum set / folkloric percussion)
JOHN BERDEGUER (Latin percussion)
MAURICIO HERRERA (Latin percission & drum set )



Did you know?
that you can book one of the Conservatory's Latin Ensembles for your next event.

Weddings
Parties
Celebrations

Click Here for More Info

FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES


RAMON RODRIGUEZ: (Conservatory Director)
Director of the Conservatory since 1975, Ramon Rodriguez directs the Latin Music Workshops and is the Director of the Raices Latin Music Collection. He has served as an auditor for the New York State Council on the Arts. A music theory and piano major, Mr. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Music from Manhattan School of Music. He is versed in piano, bass violin, and percussion. In addition Mr. Rodriguez has studied electronic music at New York University with Morton Subsonic. His teaching experiences include Third Street Music School, Henry Street Music Settlement as well as various teen performing arts workshops with the Board of Education of New York City. With extensive performance experience in Latin, popular and classical fields, he has performed with such artists and groups as Roberta Flack, Tipica Novel, Johnny Colon, and the The Symphony of the New World. His Off-Broadway credits include Roar of the Grease Paint, and Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope. As a co-producer, he has produced numerous shows celebrating Latin Music including Oh....So Many Stars, A Celebration of the Sideman of the Palladium Era, Salsa Sunday 1997, and the 1997 GRAMMY Tribute to Tito Puente to name a few. In November 2000, Mr. Rodriguez was inducted into City Lore's People's Hall of Fame, and is a recipient of the 2001 Fifth Annual Samuel and May Rudin Community Service Award and the Eugene McCabe Memorial Public Service Award.
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LOUIS BAUZO (Latin percussion / department head)
Louis Bauzo has been a professional musician for over thirty years. A former member of the Tito Puente Orchestra, he has performed and/ or recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Machito, Mario Bauzo, Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Celia Cruz, Cachao and Paul Simon, among others. Director of the Harbor Conservatory’s Latin Percussion Department, Mr. Bauzo is also the musical director and conductor of the Harbor Big Band, as well as the Co-Founder/Curator of the RAICES Latin Music Collection. Mr. Bauzo is a recognized authority on Afro-Caribbean folklore, and has studied in Africa, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Juilliard School of Music. He is the director of the Afro-Caribbean folkloric dance and drumming troupes “Carambu” and “Patakin”. In 2000, Mr. Bauzo was honored as an Urban Folk Hero with his induction into City Lore’s People's Hall of Fame in recognition of his effort in creating a home for Latin music

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MARTIN SöDERBERG, (Classical Music Director, pianist)
Director of the Classical Music Program for more than 12 years, Dr. Søderberg holds a Doctorate in Music from Manhattan School of Music. As director of the Classical Music Program he has helped define the program as "a performance oriented school" emphasizing student performances, guest artist and faculty concerts, jury exams, preparation for competitions and auditions to specialized high schools and colleges. As an active performer touring Europe, Latin America and the United States, Dr. Søderberg is also President and Founder of "Music, Musicians and Music Lovers" (MMML), an international association of performing artists. In 2001, he was appointed President of the Jury at the VI International Festival of Young Latin American Pianists (Santo Domingo). He has conducted master classes in several countries and is also on faculty at Hostos Community College.

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PIANO



CECILIA YIBIRIN (pianist)
A native of Venezuela, Ms. Yibirin has been instructing piano at Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts for more than 14 years. As a student of Robert Goldsand, she graduated from Manhattan School of Music with a Bachelor Degree, and continued her studies at Hunter College (New York) receiving a Master Degree. Ms. Yibirin is the Vice President of the Albeniz Institute of Music under the direction of President Diaz Acosta, her teacher and mentor. In addition, she is a exponent of the Relaxation School of piano playing.

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CARMEN FARIÑAS (pianist)
Carmen Fariñas received her Bachelor Degree in Music with a specialty in piano from the Superior Institute of the Arts, Music Faculty (Havana, Cuba) in 1990-1991. She studied with Frank Fernandez, Inna Stepanov, Igor Stepanov and Sergei Aranov. Throughout her career, Ms. Fariñas has served as a Department Head, Director and Vice Principal of various music schools in Cuba... Manuel Samuel Conservatory of Music, Provincial School for the Arts and the National Center for Artistic Teaching. She has also served as a judge for numerous national and international piano competitions. Currently she is a music instructor at Holy Spirit Catholic School and a Board Education Chorus Teacher for District 6. Ms. Fariñas is also the chorus director and organist at St. Joseph of Palisades (New Jersey) as well as the Baptist Church (Long Island).

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LIANY FARIÑAS (pianist)
Currently enrolled in a Bachelor Degree program for Piano Performance at the Juilliard School of Music (New York), Ms. Fariñas joined the music faculty in 2002. Ms. Fariñas is the winner of numerous national and international competitions: The International Piano Competition Claudio Arrau in Chile, La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts Concerto Competition, Queens College Concert Competition among others. In addition, she is the recipient of several awards and scholarships: Bill Gates Millenium Scholarship, Juilliard Scholarship for Piano Performance and the Carnegie Hall Chamber Music Award and Competition to name a few.

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PAUL DE SILVA (pianist)
A graduate of the State University of New York at Purchase, Paul De Silva holds a BFA and MFA in Piano Performance. An active performer and teacher, he maintains a private studio of piano students in New York and Chicago. As a member of the Patrick Grant Group (1966-2000) Mr. De Silva's performances included the 1999 Bang on a Can Festival, The Knitting Factory, P.S. 122, and Roseland. Mr. De Silva has performed works by Alban Berg, John Cage, Steve Reich and Phillip Glass. Since 1994 Mr. De Silva has been active as an organist in both New York and Chicago.

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SONNY BRAVO (pianist, composer, arranger, educator)
Born in NYC of Cuban-American parents and raised in Miami, Florida, Sonny Bravo is the son of legendary bassist Santiago "Elio" Osacar. In 1956, Sonny Bravo embarked on his own musical career touring with a local group and later with Fajardo Y Sus Estrellas. Throughout his career Sonny Bravo has performed with Willie Bobo, Vicentico Valdes, Bobby Valentin, Ray Barretto, and Raul Morreo, to name just a few. In 1972, Tipica was born with Mr. Bravo as Musical Director and proved to be a turning point in his career. Nine albums later Sonny Bravo began touring with the Tito Puente Latin Jazz Ensemble which led to a fifteen year relationship with the "King". His extensive touring schedule took him all over the world culminating with Tito's final performance in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sonny Bravo has also performed, recorded and arranged for Bill Cosby, Lionel Hampton, George Benson, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Machito, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Mongo Santamaria, Johnny Pacheco to name only a few.

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PABLO MAYOR (pianist, composer, arranger)
Born in Palmira, Columbia, Pablo Mayor holds both a B.A. and a M.A. from the University of North Texas. His teaching experience includes the Universidad Javerina in Bogota, Colombia. Mr. Mayor joined the Conservatory in 1999, as an instructor of Latin piano. He is also a pianist and arranger for Orquesta Broadway. Mr. Mayor has performed with such artists as Pete el Cionde Rodriguez, Alberta Santiago, Melcochita, Tricoche and others. His arranging credits include two CDs produced in Mexico as well as his most recent project as arranger for Drop 6 Media Inc.(Denton, Texas). Currently, Mr. Mayor is working on a production of his original compositions and arrangements of jazz and Columbian music.

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EARL COLEMAN (Composition,Theory, Piano)
Earl Coleman BA, MA, was born in Brooklyn N.Y. where he received his rudimentary training in classical music, Earl eventually relocated to Manhattan where he became a private student of Zenon Fishbein at the Manhattan School of Music in 1973.  In the summer  of 1975 , he began studies in counterpoint harmony and solfege at Bronx Community College.  There,  he also continued his piano studies with Jan Gorbaty, a master pianist retained on faculty at CUNY.After completing his theory, piano and ensemble performance classes at Bronx Community College Earl transferred to City College where he continued his studies in music while including core academic courses and foundational courses in the department of education. After graduating from City College, having performed in numerous recitals and ensemble performances in classical, Latin and jazz, he continued his studies at the graduate level with a major in music composition at Hunter College where he graduated at the the top of his class.

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ENRIQUE HANEINE (pianist)
Mr. Haneine holds a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music-Jazz Piano Performance, (Magana Cum Laude). He has as a vast experience in Jazz Piano, improvisation, arranging and composition. Mr. Haneine has worked as a Musical Producer and Director for Televisa, Vina del Mar and Jazz Festivals in Mexico, Canada, Peru and the USA. Arranger, Musical Director and Keyboardist for Grammy Award Winner Ricky Martin, Sasha, Maria del Sol among other artists. Composer of many jingles and musical themes such as the Heraldos Awards (92,94,95); Wheel of Fortune (95); Coca Cola Christmas Party Special, Nintendo TV Program, as well as arrangements for records and soap-operas. Winner of several Jazz Piano Compositions such as the Jane Jarvis Jazz Piano Competition, and selected candidate on the Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition in France. He has performed extensively in Clubs, Carnival Cruise Lines, Spirit Cruises, Concerts, Recitals and recordings with reknowned performers such as Joe Hunt, Joe Lovano, Jon Faddis, Mark Feldman, Harvie Swartz, Hugh Fraser, Phil Nimmons, Dave Pietro, Bruce Gertz, Dave Schroeder, Christopher Schweizer, Vince Cherico, Chris Washburne, and Roberto Quintero. He has a teaching experience as a Jazz Piano Teacher at the Boston Conservatory Division of Special Programs; Staff Accompanist at Berklee College of Music Department and is currently in the Jazz Piano Faculty at Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts.

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OSCAR CORREA (pianist, composer, ethnomusicologist)
Oscar Correa is currently teaching piano at the Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts.  Mr. Correa studied at The Manhattan School of Music, where under the direction of Ludmila Ulehla and Giampaolo Bracali he pursued studies in music theory, composition and piano.  He continued his education at Hunter College, obtaining a Masters degree in music composition under the tutelage of Shafer Mahony.  Aside from teaching, he devotes his time to composition and to the study of ethnomusicology with concentration in the music of the Hispanic world—especially that of Colombia.  His works are played both in the United States and in Colombia where he was born.

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SOPHIE BUCHANAN (pianist)
Ms. Buchanan was a finalist in the MTNA Young Artists Solo Competition and Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Concerto Competition.  She served four years in the United States Army Band, during which she was ranked among the top ten percent of all Army Bandsmen and named the Class Distinguished Graduate from the Armed Forces School of Music. Promoted to Sergeant and based in Ft. Knox, Kentucky, Ms. Buchanan toured extensively with the 113th Army Band and performed solo and ensemble works on piano, oboe, flute, piccolo, and percussion instruments.  Ms. Buchanan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rutgers University studying music and foreign languages, and was the recipient of the 2001-2002 Marguerite Lentz Prize. Currently Ms. Buchanan is completing a degree in piano performance at the City College of New York and performs widely in the New York metropolitan area.

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GENE HICKS (classical piano)
Gene Hicks(Classical Piano) is a veteran performer, composer, and  teacher. A native of  Brooklyn,  he started playing piano at age four, and violin at age eleven.  Besides teaching at Harbor Conservatory he maintains a teaching and recording studio in Brooklyn. He  performs educational programs in New York City and area school assemblies, and is often called upon to direct choirs and accompany choirs. Gene taught music at Preston High School in the south Bronx for six years, where he directed the choir and  musical performances, and gave instruction in violin, cello and piano. He has traveled the globe, and worked with such diverse  notables as Andy Warhol, John Paul Jones, Bill Monroe, John Belushi & Dan Akroyd, and La Charanga  Fanica. Gene has an extensive background in musical theater including: “Hair” European tour ( musical director), “Always....Patsy Cline” N.Y.C. (band leader) “That’s Not funny, That’s Sick”, national tour ( musical director).  Gene has studied orchestration and composition with John Corigliano (The Red Violin), theory with Mark Adamo (Little Women), conducting with Alan Hollander, solfeggio with Marta Ghezzo, jazz piano with Stanley Cowell,  classical piano with Peter Vinograde, and is currently studying Latin piano with the great Sonny Bravo, at Harbor Conservatory.   He has taught himself jazz piano and  violin, and is involved in numerous recording and arranging projects,  besides working with several bands playing many genres, including country and western, cajun and bluegrass.

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GUSTAVO CASENAVE (piano)

Gustavo Casenave was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1971, international award winner (Europe Jazz Contest (1999) pianist composer and musical director, graduated in 1996 (Magna Cum Laude) from Berklee College of Music. Since 1994, he has been touring through Europe, Asia, South, Central  and North America, presenting his music with different groups in the most prestigious festivals and  concert halls worldwide. Gustavo’s performance and recording experience include top master musicians and actors from Jazz, Tango and the Pop world, such as Gary Burton, Bette Midler, Jon Hendricks, Yoyo Ma, Robert Duvall, Neil Sedaka, Manolo Badrena, John Benitez, Mark Egan, Miguel Zenón and Victor Lavallen, among many others. As a composer, he was commissioned by "The 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic", and composed the music for the internationally awarded feature film: "La Cascara" ("The Rind") (2007) from the producers of Pedro Almodovar's films. In addition to an active performing schedule, Gustavo also manages a full teaching schedule. He has been a faculty member Harbor Conservatory for more than ten years, while instructing several master classes about Jazz and Tango at various institutions. His workshops have been offered at NYU, The Lincoln Center Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art workshops: Origins of Jazz and Latin styles, European jazz workshops (Austria and Germany) representing Berklee College of Music, Yale University (Tango Workshop) The University of Uruguay and The University of Florida among others. His discography includes 13 albums as a leader and participating projects, edited in USA, Germany, Austria, Belgium and Uruguay.

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VOICE



VIRGINIA HERRERA (soprano, teen chorus)
Virginia Herrera, Mexican singer made her debut with the Orchestra Celebrate at Merkin Hall in New York City with the Premiere of “ERMINIA”, a concert piece for soprano and orchestra written by composer Juan Crisostomo Arriaga in 2002 . Ms. Herrera is also a winner of several vocal competitions in the U.S. such as The Rising Star Opera Competition 2000 of Naomi Music Productions and Recordings, the New Millenium Vocal Competition 2001 of the New York Vocal Artists, the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition 2001, the New Jersey State Opera and the Palm Beach Opera Competition 1995. She was a soloist in the opening Emmy Awards Ceremony in 2001. She has recorded arias from Rossini, Puccini, Mascagni, Verdi, Mozart, Bellini and Bizet with Maestro Borislav Ivanov and the Orchestra of Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

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SHADIA F. ALMASRI AGUILCE (voice)
Shadia F. Almasri Aguilœ began her musical studies in Miami Florida at the age of three. After moving to Puerto Rico she was selected to form part of the world-renowned institution: the San Juan ChildrenÕs Choir, and represented Puerto Rico in various international venues throughout Asia, Euope, South America and various stages in United States. She continued her private piano lessons until graduating from High School. Ms. Almasri recently completed her Bachelor in Arts in Communications graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus and her Bachelor in Music Piano performance with a minor in voice graduating Summa Cum Laude from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. During college, she participated in many choral organizations and was a soloist with the Zarzuela and Operetta Foundation of Puerto Rico and Pro- Arte L’rico. She has also participated in various summer voice programs including IVAI (International Vocal Arts Institute) and the Opera Theater and Musical Festival in Lucca. Currently studying voice privately with Professor Beth Roberts, she has been accepted into Mannes College, The New School For Music, The Graduate Program For Voice.

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STRINGS



YRVING YERAS (string,violins)
Born in 1973 in Santa Clara, Cuba, Yrving Yeras began studying music at age 6; at 14, he was playing professionally in the Santa Clara Symphonic Orchestra. He remained here for 8 years, eventually attaining the chair of principal violinist of the orchestra. Later, he expanded his musicianship into popular music, leading the string section in the "Orquesta Charanga Oro Verde," a group comprised primarily of young musicians who regularly took first prize in festivals and competitions all over the island. He also accompanied the legendary Omara Portuondo during his tenure with this band. Yrving later formed Alma Latina., a fearless and versatile trio that incorporated many diverse Latin American styles and rhythms in its original arrangements. This trio toured in Cuba and Europe, playing in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Costa Rica, Panama and many other countries as ambassadors of traditional music. While in Cuba, Alma Latina also recorded a self-titled album which showcased the group’s inimitable swing. In 1999, Yrving immigrated to the United. Moving to New York, he made a name for himself, playing with the renowned bands Fajardo Y Sus Estellas, Chico Alvarez y Palomonte, Orquesta Novel, Orquesta Broadway, Orquesta Siglo XX, and many others. He has also been a session violinist and recorded with Africando, SonSublime, Johnny Ray y Salsa con Clase, and Ray Santiago. Yrving continues to expand upon his considerable abilities as a violinist and also plays charango, tres, recorder and percussion. In addition, he is a gifted composer and arranger, and is the exclusive luthier for the violin division of the Greenwich House Music School.

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GUITAR



DAVID OQUENDO (guitarist / singer / sonero )
Born in Havana, Cuba, David Oquendo is a self taught musician who absorbed the essence of the Afro Cuban rhythmical vernacular from his native city. At an early age, David began playing guitar and singing in several Cuban “Rock” bands, and became considered one of the best guitar accompanist in Cuba. This was evident in his appearances at “El Rincon del Feeling”, “Cabaret Tropicana”, “Cabaret Internacional de Varadero”, “Salon Rojo” at the Hotel Capri , to name a few. As an accompanist, Mr. Oquendo has worked with numerous artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Marc Anthony, Johnny Ventura, Ray Barreto. He is a guitarist, singer, composer, arranger and bassist, and has performed and recorded in Cuba, Panama , Dominican Republic, Austria, Canada Greece and the U.S. He is founder and director of the Afro Cuban folklore group “Raices Habaneras”, which has been performing every Sunday since 1996. He was the musical director and producer for “The Cuban Rumba All Stars".

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GUSTAVO "Chacho" SCHARTZ (guitar/ tres, bass/ bass guitar)
Born in Argentina, Gustavo Schartz began studying classical guitar at the age of nine. He attended the Buenos Aires Conservatory of Music. He has studied at the prestigious Rubin Academy of Music where he graduated with a degree in jazz performance. There, Mr. Schartz studied with Danny Gottfried the well known musical director of the the Red Sea Festival, free-jazz pianist and educator Vachislav Ganelin and Boris Gamer. He has traveled extensively throughout Israel and Europe with his Brazilian Band, Macumba. In Cuba he performed with Chucho Valdes Jr. Latin Jazz Ensemble and the legendary Charanga band "Pancho El Bravo". while doing his own compositions at the Bobby Carcass show. In New York as a musician and band leader Gustavo has been active with his own group Son De Madre. Gustavo Schartz has recorded and toured with many well known musicians such as Alfredo De La Fe, Albita Rodriguez, Jose Fajardo, "Chocolate" Armenteros, David Oquendo, Ralph Irizarry, Jose Alberto "El Canario", El Gran Combo, Ernie Agosto y La Conspiracion, Mo Guajiro and many more. A seasoned instructor, he has ten years experience teaching at the Jerusalem Conservatory of Music and privately in New York City. He teaches classical, jazz, blues, rock, Brazilian, Cuban and is fluent in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Hebrew.

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GUILLERMO E. EDGHILL (acoustic & electric bass)
Mr. Edghill was born in Colon, Panama and is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music. His symphonic experiences, include the New Symphony Orquestra, Harlem Philharmonic, and Columbia University Orchestra. Mr. Edghill’s extensive popular, Latin appearances and recordings, include Machito, Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, Ray Barretto, Linda Ronstadt, and “ The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love” film soundtrack.

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REEDS



ROLANDO BRICEÑO (saxophone /flute / clarinet)
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Rolando Briceño studied at the Caracas Conservatory. A recipient of a government scholarship to study in the United States, he attended Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY) and Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his Bachelor of Music and Masters Degrees. Since 1971, he has performed in a wide range of formats, including, soloist with Venezuelan Symphonic Orchestra, Caracas radio and television orchestra, and many recordings in Venezuela and the U.S. He has performed with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Mario Bauza, and others. His teaching experiences include Bronx Community College, and East Harlem Music School.

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BRASS



OMAR CASTAÑOS (trumpet & solfeo)
Omar Castaños attended Queens College and Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He is the leader of the Harbor Brass Quintet, which participates in the Arts Connection public performance program of NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs. His extensive professional experience in the Classical and Latin music fields, include numerous musical directorships

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GUIDO GONZALEZ (trumpet)
Guido Gonzalez received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Long Island University. He has studied privately with Victor Paz, Laurie Frink, John Longo, Jimmy Owens, and Al Degooyer. In addition, Guido has performed with Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Celia Cruz, Ray Barreto, Johnny Pacheco, Ben E. King, and many others. He also has extensive classical performance experience and worked on Paul Simon’s Broadway show, "The Capeman."

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PERCUSSION



JOSE MADERA (Latin percussion)
Born in New York City and the son of Jose “Pin” Madera, who was the first arranger for the Machito Orchestra, Jose Madera has been a musician with Tito Puente’s Orchestra for 30 years. He has been the musical director of the orchestra for the last 14 years. As a staff arranger for Fania records in the 1970’s, Mr. Madera has written arrangements for many commercial Latin artists, as well as recorded with them including Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Willie Colon, Celia Cruz, the Fania All-Stars, Machito and Tito Puente. Mr. Madera has also worked and recorded with r&b pop artists, some of which include Diana Ross, James Brown, Aztec Two-Step, Harold Melvin, and MFSB among others. He has worked on and recorded several movie soundtracks, the most recent being “ The Mambo Kings Sing Songs of Love”. He is currently a Latin percussion endorser/artist conducting musical clinics for LP as well as other schools around the country. Jose has been teaching the art of playing Latin percussion instruments for over 20 years.
(Photo Courtesy Martin Cohen)

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GEORGE DELGADO (Latin percussion)
Born in the Bronx, NY of Puerto Rican descent, Mr. Delgado is a self taught percussionist. He began playing professionally at the age of 14 with Tito Rojas y su Conjunto Borincano. Since then he has performed and recorded with artists such as, Tito Puente, Tito Rojas, Tony Vega, Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Sonora Matancera, Jimmy Bosh, Manny Oquendo’ Libre, Tito Nieves and many others. He has toured the United States, Europe, Japan, and Caribbean.

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GREG ASKEW (drum set / folkloric percussion)
Greg Askew attended City University . An alumni of Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, Mr. Askew has studied with Reggie Tyler, Louis Bauzo, Alex Giglio and other Harbor instructors. He has recorded with Orchestra Yambu and performed with Roberto Borrell y su Kubata. He is currently performing with Caribbean dance and music troupes ‘Patakin’ and ‘Carambu’.

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JOHN BERDEGUER (Latin percussion)
Born in New York City, John Berdeguer has been hooked on the conga drum since age 11, abandoning his violin lessons which he started in the third grade. At the age of 14, he began to work with a group called Benny and his Latin Sextet. Later he and Louis (Cholo) Rivera started a group called The Latin Soul Drive, which had a major hit in the late 60’s. In 1973 Mr. Berdeguer joined Tambo, a band started by Louis Bauzo and Johnny Almendra, both world renowned percussionist. From 1976 through 1979, John Brerdegeuer freelanced with many groups. In 1979 John started his own band called Conjunto Bembe, which is still working today. He also began Grupo Gwomba, a Bomba and Plena group. Mr. Berdguer is currently working with Johnny Almendra Y Los Jovenes del Barrio. He has been with them since 1994.

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MAURICIO HERRERA (Latin percission & drum set )
Born in Holguin, Cuba, Mauricio started his musical studies at the age of 7 and
studied percussion with various master percussionists in cuba. After graduating
high school Mauricio studied at the Jose Maria Ochoa Conservatory of Music as a
Conjunto Musical Director Major. He graduated in 1992 with honors and soon
began working on various folkloric & popular music projects. In 1994 he moved to
Havana where he worked with several groups such as Hector Valentin, La Barriada,
Pachito Alonzo y sus Kini-Kini, Paulito FG y su Elite, Manolin El Medico de la salsa
and others, with whom he collaborated on international tours, CD recordings and
TV shows in Cuba. After leaving Paulo FG, he worked on discography projects with
Manolito Simonet and several others. On 2001 he moved to Mexico City where he
had been doing recordings, international tours and concerts with Amaury
Gutierrez, David Torrens and the salsero Domingo Quiñonez among many others.
Now residing in New York City, he has been working as a percussionist with many
of the top groups in the Tri-State Area.

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Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts
1 East 104th Street
New York, NY 10029
(212) 427-2244 ext . 570
info@harborconservatory.org
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