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Levine Presents: Cuban Charanga
May 4, 2024 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EDT
Free – $20.00
Journey through the Cuban charanga flute evolution with faculty member Ceylon Mitchell.
Join us for an evening celebrating the iconic Cuban charanga Orquesta Aragón, one of the most beloved Cuban music groups and global ambassadors. The beautiful polyrhythms of Afro-Cuban music and balletic European contradanzas meet in hits such as “Almendra” and “Pare Cochero.” Richard Egües, nicknamed la flauta magica, is famous for his distinctive flute playing and catchy songwriting for the group during the danzón and cha-cha-cha craze of the 1940s/1950s. This performance pays homage to his innovations and influence to this day.
Featuring: Ceylon Mitchell, flute, with guest artists:
- Sarah Taylor Cook, vocals/coro
- Taisha Estrada, vocals/coro
- Michael Paxton, sax
- Christine Kharazian, violin
- Amyr Joyner, violin
- Erin Murphy Snedecor, cello
- Ellington Carthan, piano
- Michael Bowie, bass
- Fran Vielma, percussion: congas
- Dominique Patrick Noel, percussion: timbales
- Bruno Lucini, percussion: drum set, guïro, claves
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and free for Levine students.
About Ceylon Mitchell
An active freelance flutist and chamber musician, Ceylon Mitchell is committed to promoting traditionally marginalized communities. He is also the co-founder and flutist of Potomac Winds, a chamber music collective. Described by the University of Maryland as “magnificent, deeply moving, and a model of alumni pride,” the ensemble is committed to promoting woodwind chamber music as a virtuosic medium through engaging performances of the highest level of artistic expression.
As a music educator, Ceylon serves as a regular sectional coach for numerous youth orchestras. Previously, he served as a teaching artist with the Boston Flute Academy and as the director of the Boston University Flute Ensemble.
