HECTOR MORALES | Afro-Peruvian Percussion & Latin Jazz

Artist’s Bio:

Peruvian drummer and percussionist, Hector Morales has combined national and international performance for the past 20 years with his work as a teaching artist in the Tri-State area. Morales, has taught countless music residencies primarily in Afro-Peruvian, Latin and Urban Percussion, through leading arts organizations in the tri-state area. In the year 2015 he received the “Artist Of The Year” award from Young Audiences NJEP. His credits also include leading professional developments for music educators and serving as grant panelist for different art councils at the local and state level. As Adjunct Faculty he currently co-teaches a course on Performing and Teaching World music at William Paterson University. Hector is also the author of “The Afro-Peruvian Percussion Ensemble” – Instructional book/DVD published by Sher Music Co, nominated in the “Best Educational Book of 2014” category by Modern Drummer Magazine. Morales currently lead “The Afro-Peruvian Ensemble”, an All-Star group integrated by master musician of Afro-Peruvian music currently leaving in the US. He also performs with other influential ensembles of the Afro-Peruvian Jazz scene in NYC including Yuri Juarez Afroperuano Group and Gabriel Alegría Afro-Peruvian Sextet. Some of the stages he has perform at include the Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Smithsonian Folk Festival (US), The National Museum of Peru (Peru), the “Society of Musicians and Composers of Chile” (Chile), “Festival du Monde Arabe de Montreal” (Canada), and Jerusalem Music Festival (Israel-Palestine).

Hector Morales at City Lore:

African Rooted Percussion & Liberatory History In The Americas

Students explore different styles of drumming developed throughout the Americas with deep roots in African musical traditions like the Festejo (Peru), Samba (Brazil), Cumbia (Colombia) and Hip-Hop (US). Students learn about unique places like San Basilio de Palenque in Colombia, Congo Square in New Orleans and even their own borough of The Bronx which were fundamental in the preservation and development of African culture in this part of the world.  They are also introduced to key figures in these styles and learn to play these rhythms to feel the connection between them but also to recognize some of their differences. Students learn to recognize particular percussion instruments developed in each musical tradition, appreciate the role of music in advancing issues of social justice and providing a common language to foster respect and harmony between all cultures in this part of the world. 

What students and teachers say about Hector:

COMING SOON!

Gallery

Videos

To see Hector’s teaching in action and for a deeper look at our residencies, check out City Lore’s Arts in Education: Making Connections; a video which exemplifies the aims our teaching artists have for students during their residencies.