PHOTOS: Musical Trip to the Dominican Republic

Earlier this month students and faculty from the School of Music visited the Dominican Republic to run workshops, round tables, masterclasses and educational concerts. They also received training and participated in events with music professionals in the island.

This cultural event was organized in alliance with the U.S. Embassy to the Dominican Republic and the Dominican Ministry of Culture.

Here are some highlights of this trip.

UNC students attended a percussion masterclass with Edis “El Gurú” Sánchez, an incredible drummer from the island, who taught them some indigenous and African rhythms. 

UNC Big Band Compass Jazz Orchestra (previously UNC Jazz Lab Band I) performed at the National Theatre in Santo Domingo, as part of the theatre’s 50th anniversary. 

UNC Director of Music Technology Socrates Garcia conducted part of the concert. Garcia is originally from Dominican Republic. 

The concert at the National Theatre Eduardo Brito was also conducted by Dana Landry, Director of Jazz Studies. Some of the pieces played at the concert were a fusion between jazz and Latin Americanstyles.

The U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and his wife attended the concert. The Ministry of Culture and other authorities also enjoyed our music. 

The performance was met with incredible audience appreciation and rave reviews. Articles about the concert were published by national newspapers. 

At the National Conservatory, some UNC students and faculty shared musical knowledge with Dominican music students through different workshops. 

Jazz students and faculty performed educational concerts for the students of the conservatory.

College of Performing and Visual Arts Dean Cristina Goletti taught a dance workshop at the National Dance School. 

Concert at the National Autonomous University of Santo Domingo with the presence of the associate dean and the provost. 

After a workshop on choreographic composition in la Casa de la Música, independent dance artists of the island showcased their pieces with an arrangement of styles from ballet, to contemporary, folkloric and hip-hopaccompanied with music from UNC faculty.

UNC faculty and students, along with local professional musicians, performed a concert on Cap Cana beach.