Horns to Havana hosts one week residency in Havana, January 3-9

by on
Led By Its Education Director Victor Goines, Also Director of Jazz Studies for Northwestern University
* * *
Part of Amistad a Través del Jazz, Students Will Travel To The
U.S. In Spring 2016 For Exchange To Be Announced

 

In the improvisational and exploratory spirit of jazz, The Horns Project/Horns to Havana was created in 2010 to support the talent and professional aspirations of young Cuban musicians. Ultimately it also works to strengthen the ties between the U.S. and Cuba using shared music traditions. Its innovative three-fold program of instrument repair and training; music education; and cultural exchange provides opportunities for transformative learning and cross-cultural exchange by helping Cuban students and schools overcome limitations created by instruments, resources, economic conditions and/or geography.
 
As part of a new initiative called Amistad a Través del Jazz/Friendship Through Jazz that Horns to Havana launched this month, Victor Goines, the organization’s director of education, will host a one-week music residency in Havana from January 3-9, 2016, for up to 500 music students from Amadeo Roldan, La ENA and Guillemo Tomas, partner schools to Horns to Havana. Accompanying him will be five professional U.S. jazz musicians selected by Goines: Justin Copeland (trumpet); Adam Thornburg (trombone); Gary Motley (piano); Emma Dayhuff (bass); Marion Felder III (drums.)
 

Objectives are to teach students the improvisational and collaboration skills of jazz and to build long-lasting relationships. The residency is comprised of the following: 1) a teacher’s workshop to address the needs of the local music educators and offer techniques for instructing students in jazz; 2) a student sectional workshop in which faculty will work with students each day in cohorts assigned by instrument; 3) a student ensemble workshop which brings all players together to collaborate as a full ensemble; and 4) a culminating performance by Horns faculty and by the students to close out the residency. The January residency is a precursor to an education and cultural exchange initiative in spring of 2016 to be announced soon.

 

Shared Goines, “This is such a rare gift to both sides as the cultural exchange of musical traditions is so important to exploring where music comes from and where it can go both in ensemble form and as individual musicians. We will all learn a great deal about each other’s musical traditions and have a great time in the process. More importantly this will be a great opportunity to learn who we are and how much we have in common through music.”