This spring, the Department of Music will welcome a new ensemble to the fold: the Latin American and Caribbean Music Ensemble, which will introduce students to a number of Latin American and Caribbean musics, including Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, Mambo, Danzón, and more.
Formed under the sponsorship of Assistant Professor Juan David Rubio Restrepo, the new ensemble will explore the work of classic as well as contemporary composers, musicians, and bands, with the goal of providing a comprehensive survey of the rich musical genealogies practiced throughout these regions.
Speaking on the launch of the new ensemble, Professor Rubio Restrepo said “the Latin American and Caribbean Music Ensemble is a timely addition to the course offerings in our department, joining other ethnomusicology ensembles to contribute to the UC Berkeley community. The musical scope of the ensemble is wide, covering musics emanating from across the Americas and the Greater Caribbean. With the continued growth of our undergraduate program and the current political moment in the United States, we expect the Latin American and Caribbean Music Ensemble to make a deep impact.”
Leading the ensemble is Saúl Sierra-Alonso, who brings a lifetime of experience with these musics to the department. Saúl was born and raised in Mexico City, where he started playing professionally in 1990. He moved to Boston in 1995 and attended the Berklee College of Music where he graduated in the summer of 1999, with a major in Performance. For the past 25 years Saúl has been a member of some of the leading bands in the Bay Area, including The John Santos Quintet/Sextet, Bobi Cespedes’ band, Dr. Loco’s Rocking Jalapeño Band, El Tren Trío, Anthony Blea y su Charanga, The Snake Trío, Jesús Díaz y su QBA, The Bay Area Afro-Cuban All Stars, The Venezuelan Music Project, Corazón Sur, Sababa band, Cascada de Flores, SJZ Collective, LaTiDo.
Professor Rubio Restrepo emphasized the department’s excitement about the hire of Sierra-Alonso, stating “We are fortunate to have Saúl Sierra-Alonso, a prominent member of the Bay Area music community, leading the ensemble. I am sure that the Latin American and Caribbean Music Ensemble will thrive and will become a fundamental space in our department.”
Those interested in the Latin American and Caribbean Music Ensemble can learn more about joining on our department auditions page. For updates on performances, be sure to join our department mailing list and follow the department on social media