Renowned Cuban drummer Ignacio Berroa to teach a Master Class! SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2016 at 2:00 PM

Join Virginia Music Adventures on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 2:00 pm, for a workshop and master class at Georgetown University’s McNeir Auditorium with Ignacio Berroa. This class is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from one of jazz’s greatest drummers.

Berroa has developed an audiovisual-teaching program that shows the evolution of Afro-Cuban music and its fusion with Jazz. His presentation, entitled “Afro-Cuban Jazz and Beyond” presents an historical view of the circumstances involved in the development of Afro-Cuban Music. From his unique point of view, Berroa illuminates how the separate and distinct aspects of European and African contributions combined to enrich the music world. Berroa’s musical journey culminates in a practical way, by engaging students in performance and showing them how to incorporate Afro-Cuban rhythms in Jazz, and how its development continues today. Throughout, Berroa peppers his presentation with fascinating anecdotes from his long career performing alongside some of the greatest Jazz masters such as Dizzy Gillespie.

To see the master himself in action before the class, join us at VMA’s Annual Benefit Gala, held on Saturday, February 27, 2016. Show-only tickets for this event are now available - doors open at 9 pm, and rates are $35/ticket, or $20/ticket with your student ID! Connecting professional musicians with students, both to listen to and to perform with them, is one of VMA’s primary goals. At this benefit gala, performing alongside Ignacio Berroa will be Virginia Music Adventures’ Annandale Jazz Ambassadors (AJA), preparing for their tour to Cuba in March. AJA is one of four programs sponsored by Virginia Music Adventures who will perform at the gala.

Grammy Award winner and international drum star Ignacio Berroa has been recognized by many as one of the greatest drummers of our times. He was an integral part of all of Dizzy Gillespie’s bands from 1981 to 1993 including Dizzy Gillespie’s 70th Anniversary Big Band and the Grammy Award winning United Nations Orchestra. He was included in the Modern Drummer Magazine and Blue Note records 2011 notable recording as a “Jazz Drumming Legend.” Ignacio is excited to perform with VMA, and says that, “It’s all about the kids – developing the next generation of artists is so rewarding!”

Now in its 37th year, Virginia Music Adventures is a non-profit group that promotes the preservation of American jazz through performances by exceptional young musicians. VMA teaches young area musicians the rhythms and articulation of jazz in preparation for performances locally and around the world on international good will tours, frequently coordinated with the US Department of State. Each year, around 50 young musicians ranging in age from 11-18 develop skills as performers of jazz and swing-era classics in educational programs during the school year and summer months.

For further information on Virginia Music Adventures’ Programs visit www.VaMusicAdventures.org or contact our Music Director Jon Laine at (202) 412-7271.