The last event of the fall 2015 Juan de Marcos González residency will take place on Dec. 8 at the Frederic March Play Circle in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union. This culminating event will be a celebration of Juan de Marcos residency’s impact while in Wisconsin. Over the past semester, there have been 15 residency and partner events ranging from performances to lectures that have celebrated culture and music from Cuba.

During the evening, performances by UW-Madison students will highlight Juan de Marcos’ teaching throughout the semester. Three students from Juan de Marcos’ “Music Production: Afro-Cuban and Hip Hop Music” course will present original material and the School of Music’s Jazz Orchestra, Latin Jazz Ensemble and World Percussion Ensemble will perform musical compositions written by Juan de Marcos.

Juan de Marcos González has dedicated his life to raising the profile of all genres of Cuban music. Photo: Tom Erlich
Juan de Marcos González has dedicated his life to raising the profile of all genres of Cuban music. Photo: Tom Erlich

In addition, the UW-Madison Arts Institute, the School of Music and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives (OMAI) within the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement are partnering with Breaking Barriers Mentoring, Inc. and many other community organizations and supporters, including Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, to bring legendary hip hop artist, Kurtis Blow, for a guest appearance and the top three finalists of the Madison’s Schools Got Talent competition to perform on campus.

There will also be peformances by:
• Students from the production course (including some from OMAI’s First Wave program)
• School of Music’s Jazz Orchestra, Latin Jazz Ensemble and World Percussion Ensemble
• Top three high school finalists of Madison’s Schools Got Talent competition