The concerts that took place at the School of Music during the weeks of September 15^th & 22^nd were just one part of the many events at the second annual Ohio State University Latin American Music Celebration. The concerts, which were open to Buckeyes and non-Buckeyes alike, provided listeners the opportunity to engage with the wide variety of unique musical identities of Latin America.   

The celebration truly was that, a celebration. The wide scope of influence that Latin American music incorporates was on display. From influence of European classical music, to Indigenous songs in Quechua, listeners were exposed to variety of amazing performances. 

One element of the performances appreciated by audiences was how musicians incorporated these many different origins and influences of Latin American music into their performances. “Coco and Consuelo explained the evolution of indigenous music in South American and Fabio, the strong influence of European music after the arrival of Spaniards to the continent,” said Professor and Associate Director for the School of Music Eugenia Costa-Giomi. “They provided a comprehensive picture of the historical, geographical, and ideological factors that resulted in the preservation and merging of rhythms and styles as well as the creation of new ones.”   

Brazilian Percussionist Ana Leticia Barros and Argentinian guitarist & vocalist Cecilia Zabala come together for a concert that merges both their talents. 

Anais Fernandez, a graduate of the Political Science and Spanish programs who minored in Andean and Amazonian Studies and received a FLAS Fellowship to support her learning of Quechua, was able to connect uniquely to one performance by Peruvian duo Consuelo Jerí, voice, and Coco Vega, guitar. “I took a lot of Quechua courses. And when I was asking one of my professors a question, they were like ‘you know there’s a concert tonight right?’” Fernandez said. “I was like ‘oh my gosh, I have to go.’”  

The dialect of Quechua from the Ayacato region that Consuelo sang in, also happened to be one of the dialects Fernandez could personally connect with, having studied the dialect in the Quechua program offered through Ohio State. When asked about what she thought of the performance, Fernadez said she “loved the use of both Spanish and Quechua” and that the concert had been “spectacular, amazing.”  

 Coco Vega (left) and Consuelo Jerí (right) perform during a recital for the Latin American Music Celebration.  

In addition to recitals throughout the week, Ohio State students had the opportunity to interact with musicians in some of their classes. Coco Vega and Consuelo Jerí visited MUSIC 2250 (Music Cultures of the World) and taught students in that class to sing a few lines and Quechua, Ana Barros and Cecilia Zabala visited a Portuguese 2 course, where students were able to ask them questions while practicing their Portuguese, and Fabio Mazzarelli conducted a flute master class and was able to give students pointers on how to better their playing. 

 Fabio Mazzarelli teaches Music majors and graduate students during flute master class  

The Celebration culminated in a final concert that highlighted the Students and Faculty within the School of Music. Professor and Director of the Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble Mike Smith said that, for him, this concert provided a good opportunity to showcase a central part of his teaching “As a drummer/percussionist, I am naturally drawn to the rhythms, and the music of Latin American countries has always been central to my teaching.”  

The Ohio State Jazz Ensemble performs at the Celebration Concert under the direction of Professor Mike Smith (photo credit: Tamara Morris)  

“I think that is one of the coolest things that we do here in the Ohio State School of Music, and the variety of styles and traditions on display here was absolutely wonderful,” said Smith. “I hope the students understand how special it is that we have adopted this as an annual event.”   

Participants and attendees alike all thought that the Latin American Music Celebration was a great opportunity to not only connect to and learn about music, but also to its extensive history and highly talented community. “I thought that this year’s concert was the best so far,” said Smith.