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For over 26 years Harbor Conservatory has been dedicated to preserving and nurturing the culture of the Caribbean Basin, particularly the commercial and folkloric African-rooted musical forms. The Center has gathered a faculty of truly exceptional artist/instructors.
Private instruction is available of virtually all instruments in the Latin style. Percussionist may choose to specialize on either conga, timbales or bongos, or may take "Exposure to Latin Percussion," which offers the basic techniques of all three instruments over a course of a year.
Group classes in rhythmic reading, basic musicianship, theory, harmony, composition and arranging are also available.
College credit is available for certain classes via an arrangement with Empire State College of the New York State University system, making Harbor Conservatory a truly complete school for the serious student seeking skills for a career in music.
In addition to individual instruction, Harbor Conservatory conducts an array of Latin music workshops and ensembles. Latin sectional, Salsa workshops and a 21 piece Latin/Jazz Big Band offer all levels the opportunity to advance.
The Harbor Conservatory is an annual recipient of the Tito Puente Scholarship Fund for young students studying Latin percussion. This includes the prestigious Charlie Palmieri Memorial Piano Scholarship, awarded by competition, for the study of Latin style piano.
Harbor Conservatory maintains an historical archive tracing the history of music from Africa through the various regions of the Caribbean, South and Central America. Established in 1979, this multi-media project is entitled, "RAICES" (ROOTS) and includes a library of material on the folklore of different South and Central American cultures, including many rare books, video tapes, rare photos and slides, a collection of biographies of major Latin artists and original arrangements and manuscripts. The Harbor's archive is recognized internationally for having the largest collection of materials pertaining to Latin popular music (Salsa) in the United States. The archive is open for research by appointment only.
For additional information about the Harbor's music program and archive please call (212) 427-2244 Ext. 573.
Percussion Faculty
Louis Bauzo / Latin Percussion Department Coordinator/Advanced Folkloric Music- Born in Puerto Rico. Attended Julliard School of Music and studied in Africa, Puerto Rico and Cuba. Recording and experience with Tito Puente, Machito, Charlie Palmieri and many others. Director of Harbor Stage Band and Harbor Afro-Caribbean folkloric dance troupes "Carambu" and "Patakin", which performed as part of Caribbean Cultural Center's Sacred Drums Festival Tour (1991).
Johnny Almendra / Advanced Latin Percussion- Attended Queens College. Studied percussion and theory with Joe Cusaties, Freddie Waitts, Charlie Persip, Ubaldo Nieto. Extensive performing and recording appearances with Tito Puente, Charanga '76', Tony Orlando, Celia Cruz, Rueben Blades, Willie Colon, Isidro Infante, Giovanni Hidalgo and others. Currently performing with Mongo Santamaria and others, while leading his own Charanga band, "Los Jovenes del Barrio".
Gregory Askew / Drumset & Folkloric Percussion- Attended City College of New York. Attended Harbor Performing Arts Center, having studied with Reggie Tyler, Louis Basuzo, Alex Giglio and other Harbor instructors. Recorded with Orchestra Yambu and performed with Roberto Borrel ys su Kubata. Currently performing with Caribbean dances troupes 'Patakin' and 'Carambu'.
Jimmy Delgado / Latin- Extensive professional performance and recording experience since 1976 with many top Latin artists, including Rueben Blades, Willie Colon, Luis Perico Ortiz, Ray Barretto and Fania All-Stars. Received Gold Record for featured timbales solo on hit single, "The Breaks" with Kurtis Blow, 1980.
Victor Rendon / Latin Percussion, Latin Rhythm Section Ensembles - Bachelor of Arts in Music, North Texas State Universtiy, 1977. Private study with Charlie Persip and many Harbor PAC Faculty members, including Louis Bauzo, Johnny Almendra, Ray Romero. Classical performance experience with Corpus Christi Symphony (Texas), off-Broadway with El Repertoria Espanol. Performed and recorded with South American music group "Samanpa". Staff drummer of Channel 42, Latin Music Program, 1990-91. Currently teaching timbales in the New York City School System. Author of two books on timbale playing, "Solo Transcriptions" and "Rhythms and Techniques for Latin Timbales".
Jerome Goldschmidt / Latin- Obtained a gold medal at the conclusion of the Final Examinations in the French Republic City of Metz and a first inter-regional award of excellence in Chamber Music at the Conservatory of Music in the city of Luxembourg. He then went to Paris where he played and recorded with Iluyenhori. His love of Latin Music brought him to Cuba and New York. On the Caribbean Island, he studied with Jose Luis "Changuito" Quintana, Roberto Vizcaino, Mario Jauregui, Alberto Villareal and different members of the group Clave y Guaguanco. In New York he performed with such great artists as Louis Bauzo, Johnny Almendra, Ray Romero, Eddie Rodriguez.In 1997, he moved to New York to pursue his interest in Afro-Cuban Music. Since then he has been involved in many playing situations such as Los Jovenes del Barrio, Potakin, Victor Rendon's Latin Jazz Orchestra, Grupos Caribe, Tito Puente, and The Latin Jazz Coalition.
Luis Andino / Latin - Born and educated in Cuba. Over 40 years of experience as an educator and performer in Cuba, United States and other countries. Helped to establish "Orchestra de Music Moderna" for the Cultural Ministry of Cuba. Relocated to Miami in 1980, working with outstanding artists such as: Vencentico Valdes, Nelson Ned. Moved to New York in 1992 and has worked and recorded with a variety of Latin artists.
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