Department Description
The percussion department at the Puerto Rico Conservatory features forty plus students, six faculty members and a newly renovated, air conditioned and soundproof facilities. For the year 2,000 we will have new state of the art facilities in a new location.
The percussion department is divided into several percussion programs:
1. The Extension Program is designed for the community. The percussion students receive instruction on Latin percussion, drumset, handbells, concert percussion program.
2. The Preparatory Program is designed for the student who is accepted into the bachelor program but needs some preparatory training.
3. The Bachelor Degree Program is designed to develop skills in all areas of percussion. In the fourth year of study, the students are required to present a senior recital. They also get many opportunities as performers in different musical styles such as symphonic music, jazz band, percussion ensemble, marimba ensemble, pop percussion ensemble, symphonic band, student recitals, chamber music, opera, and latin percussion. The percussion ensembles have performed with such musicians as; Giovanni
Hidalgo, Alex Acuña, Dave Samuels, Orestes
Vilato, Paoli
Mejias, Patato
Valdez, Little Johnny, Victor Mendoz, Arthur Lipner, Efrain Toro.
Since 1993 our department has been offering our annual International Percussion Festival, under the guidance of it's Founder and Director Professor Jose Alicea. The festival gives students the opportunity to perform and study with world renowned percussionist of different percussion fields. Also, we celebrate a Day of Percussion.
San Juan offers a rich musical culture where the student may appreciate and work in symphonic music, jazz festivals, latin salsa music, opera and world music.
Percussion Undergraduate Courses
Applied Music, Percussion Workshop, Percussion Ensemble, as well as the required courses offered by the conservatory. Many of the students that graduate at the bachelor degree level, pursue graduate work in the mainland United States.
Percussion Instructor
Professor Jose Alicea has distinguished himself as a latin, symphonic and chamber musician. Currently, the is the percussionist and cymbalist for the Puerto Rico Symphony. For the past eight years, Mr. Alicea was the percussionist for the Casals Festival Orchestra under the baton of maestro Pablo Casals. As a soloist, he performed with Ravi Shankar and has presented many solo and chamber music recitals. Mr. Alicea has had extensive experience as a teacher and conductor of percussion ensembles. He has received accolades from many graduate music schools for being a successful teacher. He has served two terms as a member of Percussive Arts Society Board of Directors.
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