Education
Master of Music
May 2023 Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, IL)
World Music Research, Performance, and Pedagogy
Bachelor of Arts
August 2021 Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL)
Afro-Cuban Studies
1 sem. Percussion Performance
Fall 2002 Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL)
Percussion Performance Degree Work
1991 - 1994 University of Calgary (Calgary, AB, Canada)
Awards and Scholarships
Northern Illinois University:
2023 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year
Fall 2021, Spring 2022 Graduate Assistantship
2023 Summa Cum Laude
Fall 2021, Spring 2022 Artistic Talent Tuition Waiver
Northeastern Illinois University:
2021 Summa Cum Laude
Fall 2019, Spring 2020 Merit Scholarship
Other Institutions:
2002 President’s List (Jacksonville State University)
1996, 1994 Tuition scholarship for AfroCubanismo Festival (Banff Centre for the Arts)
Field Work/Professional Development
2006, ‘07, ‘10, ‘13, ‘14, ‘16, ‘23 Independent travel (Habana and Matanzas Cuba)
Self-funded, solo trips in pursuit of complete cultural, religious, linguistic, and musical immersion
Summer 1996, 1999 Drummers Collective and Independent Travel (NY, NY)
Private study with Bobby Sanbria, Eddie Bobé, Madou Dembele, John Amira
N’Goma N’Dao, and West African and Afro-Cuban master musicians
Summer 1994, 1996 AfroCubanismo workshop (Banff, AB, Canada)
Summer workshop at the Banff School of the Arts
Intensive study with Enrique Pla, Miguel “Anga” Diaz,
José Luis “Changuito” Quintana, and other Afro-Cuban master musicians
Higher Education Experience
Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, IL)
Spring 2024 Instructor
Designed and implemented Afro-Latin Music and the Diasporic Movement course/ensemble
Fall 2022, Spring 2023 Graduate Assistant
Designed and implemented Introduction to World Music and Culture course
Director of the West African/Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble
Co-Instructor for Afro-Cuban Drumming Class
North Central College (Naperville, IL)
Spring 2024 Instructor
Designed and Implemented Doing Ethnomusicology course
Concordia University Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Spring 2024 Instructor
Designed and Implementated Intro to World Music and Culture course
DePaul University (Chicago, IL)
2021, 2023 Guest masterclasses for the School of Music
Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL)
Spring 2020 Writing tutor, Center for Academic Writing/Learning Success Center
University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
2019-2023 Director of the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble
2019, 2021 Aide and coordinator for guest artist/Composer workshop
2014 - 2022 Regular guest master classes for the Department of Music
University of Illinois at Chicago (Chicago, IL)
2015 Guest master class and percussion coaching
Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL)
Spring 2000 Guest master classes for the entire Jazz program
Fall 2002 Teaching Assistant
Taught Afro-Cuban Percussion Course for Percussion Majors
Master Classes, Workshops, and performances with university ensembles
University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta, CA)
1998 Co-instructor, Fundamentals of Rhythm, Faculty of Kinesiology
1998 Co-instructor, Afro-World Beat Dance and Rhythm, Faculty of Kinesiology
K-12 Teaching Experience
2002 - Present International Music Foundation (Chicago, IL)
Concerts/presentations, in-class residencies, and after-school programs providing music for Chicago public schools
2009 - present Catherine Cook School (Chicago, IL)
Concerts/presentations, in-class residencies
2015 - 2017 Ravinia Festival (Highland Park, IL)
Jazz Mentor in percussion for the Jazz Scholar program
Coaching big band and small jazz ensembles made up of approximately 30 of Chicago Public School’s top music students each year
2006 - 2011 Rock for Kids (Chicago, IL)
Musical outreach for families with school-age children living in social assistance programs
Invited Guest Presentations
2021 Havana Jazz Festival Broadcast
MLK Round Table Discussion on Cuban Music and Jazz, moderated by Dr. James Early
2015 Made in Chicago Festival (Poznan Poland)
Guest masterclass and performance
2011 Genesis at the Crossroads (Israel)
Cultural concerts, workshops, and discussions focusing on bridging cultures in conflict through art
2004, 2007 Conservatorio Mozarte (Quito, Ecuador)
Guest Clinician, Performer, and Instructor
1996 - 1999 Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
Workshops for company dancers/students and collaboration with artistic directors for professional touring productions
Selected Performance Experience
2023 Telmary Diaz (Chicago)
2023 The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Bowie Project (Chicago)
2023 Aynor Dogan (Chicago, San Fransisco, Seattle)
2019 - 2023 Nicholas Tremulis and the Prodigals (Chicago)
2023 - 2024 Arco Musical w/ Dr. Gregory Beyer (Chicago, DeKalb)
2023 Tina, The Tina Turner, the Musical, Chicago
2022 The Devil Wears Prada (Chicago, World premiere)
2015, 2017-2019 On Your Feet! Gloria Estefan Musical (with Miami Sound Machine)
World premiere (Chicago) (2015)
First national tour (2017-2019)
2012 Jazz con Amala (leader)
World Music Festival Chicago
2007 - 2011 Howard Levy and Saffron Caravan
Rialto Theater, Casablanca, Morocco
HAMSA-fest, Chicago, IL
US ambassador’s residence, Rabat, Morocco
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC
US ambassador’s residence, Tel Aviv, Israel
Cultural concerts/workshops in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beer-Sheva Israel
2011 Michael Spiro
Day of Percussion for PASIC Chicago
2009 Occidental Brothers
Vancouver and Montreal Jazz Festivals
2007 Lalo Schifrin with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble
Harris Theater
2004, 2007 Quito Percussion Festival (Quito, Ecuador)
1996 - 1999 Decidedly Jazz Danceworks
Band member and musical director
2007 – present Chicago and area Jazz Festivals
Band member with multiple ensembles
1992 - 1998 Canadian Jazz, Folk, and World Music Festivals
Band member with multiple ensembles
Selected Audio and Video Recordings
2023 Aynor Dogan, Live at KEXP
2022 Sean Walshe, American Son
2021 Los Asesinos, Regalito,
2021 Nicholas Tremulis and The Prodigals, Rareified World
2013 Angel de Cuba, Heritage
2013 Grupo Cha Cha, This is the Life
2011 Saffron Caravan, Tour Documentary (with Howard Levy)
2010 Saffron Caravan, Unfolding
2010 Live Video for The African Channel with Loide Jorge (Mozambique vocalist)
2007 Ryan Cohan, One Sky
2005 James Sanders and Conjunto, Chicago Session
2005 Latin Inspiration, Latin Inspiration