For Immediate Release:
Contact: Dr. Jolán Kovács
KoSA
Cuba One-Week Study Program & The “Fiesta Del Tambor” was a trip of a
lifetime!
Montreal,
March 28, 2018
– The KoSA Music directors – Aldo Mazza
and his wife- Dr. Jolán Kovács -
just returned from Havana, Cuba high
on emotion after celebrating its 17th annual edition of their drum
and percussion camp and festival: KoSA
Cuba. This week-long drum and
percussion camp and festival in collaboration with the “Fiesta Del Tambor” festival
puts a spotlight on the immense talent of Cuban musicians and dancers and
provides an insight on this countries rich history and fascinating
culture. This year’s trip took place March
4 – 11, 2018.
KoSA Cuba was an experience like no
other for the lucky participants coming from all over the U.S, Canada and even
Switzerland this year and raging in age from 19 to 87 years young. The program
offered intensely fulfilling days of hands-on classes, workshops, concerts,
lectures, cultural visits and the exciting activities of the Havana’s Fiesta
Del Tambor (Havana Rhythm and Dance festival). Conga, bongo, timbales, bata,
drumset and other instruments were studied as participants were immersed in
Cuban rhythms, and seminars on Cuban music (given by the renown
ethnomusicologist Dr. Olavo Alin . All instruments were provided,
and participants studied, and played along Cuba’s top international artists
such as Amadito Valdes (Buena Vista
Social Club), Enrique Pla (Irakere),
El Peje (Chucho Valdes), El Panga (Havana top studio musician), Adel Gonzales (Afro Cuban Allstars),
and Miguelon Rodriguez .
The capital city of Havana where the
workshop took place, is scenic, historical and renowned for the richness of its
Cuban culture, folklore and music. An incredible variety and depth of knowledge
has been passed through the generations, maintaining centuries old
African-based traditions. Havana is also the cultural Mecca of the Caribbean
and a hotbed of new and contemporary creative music. All of this—and more—was
seen, felt and heard during the week. An
added bonus for the KoSA Cuba participants was the VIP access to the Fiesta del
Tambor, a growing national percussion competition with associated clinics and
concerts spearheaded by Giraldo Piloto
(Klimax) in honor of his late uncle Guillermo
Barreto.
The KoSA Cuba experience culminated
each evening with electrifying concerts in Havana’s classic theatres. These concerts featured the unparallel talent
of Cuba’s top artists in music and dance.
Special guest artists joining Aldo
Mazza in Havana this year were Jim
Riley, Antonio Sanchez and Nanny Assis whose talent were also
featured in the jam packed Fiesta del Tambor concerts as well as a special
evening concert, “Sabian Night” featuring SABIAN artists. A welcome surprise was the “Recognition
Award” bestowed upon Aldo Mazza and KoSA Music for their tireless efforts in
promoting the music and culture of Cuba for nearly two decades. A further highlight of the week was the spectacular “Nights in Brazil” concert
which featured the mega talent of Nanny Assis, Janis Siegel (Manhattan
Transfer), and famed Brazilian artists Joao Donato and Fabiana Cozza.
The dates are set for next year’s
KoSA Cuba & Fiesta del Tambor- March 3-10, 2019
For
more information on KoSA Cuba, please visit www.kosamusic.com or call
1-800-541-8401. www.facebook.com/kosacubaworkshop/festival,
www.facebook.com/kosacubatravel
KoSA Cuba 2018 and Fiesta del Tambor
was graciously sponsored by Sabian, Gon Bops, Ludwig and Evans.
