West Hartford's USJ Hosting Grammy-Nominated Puerto Rican Musician

University of Saint Joseph

WEST HARTFORD, CT – A West Hartford-based university is hosting a special concert Saturday, April 13, in conjunction with an ongoing celebration of Puerto Rican culture and the arts.

The University of Saint Joseph’s evening concert series "Noche Boricua" that evening will feature William Cepeda, who will also lead an afternoon "Bomba/Plena" family workshop.

Cepeda, a four-time Grammy-nominated musician and composer, is celebrated for his
groundbreaking Afro-Rican Jazz, blending traditional Puerto Rican musical forms with
progressive jazz.

"His music transcends borders, captivating global audiences," wrote USJ in an announcement.

Cepeda’s "Puerto Rican Explosion: Musical Roots and Evolution" presents an evening of
Puerto Rican music and dance, ranging from the traditional forms of bomba, plena, danza,
musica jíbara, and musica Taina, to the internationally popular contemporary styles into which
they have evolved.

The performance will take place at Hoffman Auditorium in Bruyette Athenaeum on the University of Saint Joseph’s West Hartford campus at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 13.

It will be preceded by light refreshments at 6:30. Tickets are $15 for advance purchase, general
admission, and $20 (cash only) at the door. For tickets visit www.showpass.com/noche-boricua.

Noche Boricua is supported in part by the NEH Humanities and Arts Fund at the University of
Saint Joseph and the Vincenza A. Uccello ’56 Lecture Fund.

Earlier on April 13, Cepeda will lead a workshop in which participants will explore the culture of
Puerto Rico through poetry and learn authentic drumming and dances of traditional Afro-
Puerto Rican bomba and plena music.

The workshop will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Middle Dining Room of McGovern Hall on the university’s campus.

Admission is free of charge but advance registration at ArtMuseumUSJ.eventbrite.com is encouraged.

This event is supported in part by the Peter Brazeau Poetry Fund and the NEH Humanities and Arts Fund at the University of Saint Joseph.

These events are presented in conjunction with the exhibition "(R)evolution: Identity and Power
in Puerto Rican and Diasporican Art" on view at the USJ Art Museum, University of Saint Joseph
through June 8.

For further information on the exhibition and related programming visit www.usj.edu/artmuseum/revolution.

To order tickets for the concert in advance, click on this link.

To register for Cepeda's workshop that Saturday afternoon, click on this link.

From March 21: 'New USJ Art Exhibit Captures Political Spirit Of Puerto Rico'