Melena

Afro/Cuban Percussionist/Music Education and Therapy

Born in Havana, Cuba, Melena is a world- class percussionist, performer, and educator of Afro/Cuban Music History and Percussion. She has toured, performed and recorded with legendary artists such as: Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray, Julio Iglesias, Chucho Valdes & Irakere, Chayanne, John Tesh, Eva Ayllone, Peru Negro, Giovanni Hidalgo, Ray De La Paz, Mario Ortiz Jr., Chino Nunez and more. Melena teaches all levels of percussion, and has experience with special needs students as well. She has conducted Master Classes nationally and internationally such as: Montreal Drum Festival, Puerto Rico Music Conservatory, Percussion Gallery (Ponce, P.R.), Los Angeles Music Academy, Brownsville University, Remo Drum Center, Braille Institute, Boys and Girls Club, and more. She has specialized her studies in the Afro-Cuban tradition, and has taught her students the importance of the history and knowledge of Afro-Cuban drumming and the language of the Sacred Bata drums. Melena is one of the most accomplished female percussionists in the Latin Music Industry. She is a Remo, Sabian, Rhythm Tech, DW, Hansenfutz, Beato, and Vic Firth artist. She performs with her Afro-Cuban Salsa band worldwide and is a Performer and Music Educator with the Latin Ballet of Virginia.

David & Kathy Robinson of Robinson's Guitar Duo

Flamenco Guitarists

Both Kathy & David Robinson received Bachelor of Music degrees in composition and David, a Master of Music degree in classical guitar performance from VCU. He is currently the director of guitar studies at the Collegiate School and teaches at Guitar Works.

Robinson performs for concerts and special events as a soloist and his wife, Kathy Robinson, in Robinson Guitar Duo. He has perfored in a master classes conducted by William Kanergeiser, Paul Galbraith, Jesùs Silva, Kevin Vigil, Dennis Koster and Sergio Assad. Robinson has also studied privately with Simon Dinnegan, John Dearman and Lily Afshaar. He is active in composing new works for guitar and other instruments and has composed works for the Latin Ballet of Virginia and the VCU Guitar Ensemble. Mrs. Robinson directs the orchestra and guitar programs at Manchester and Lloyd C. Bird High Schools.

Ram Bhagat & Drums No Guns

Guest Artist

Ram has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the Virginia State University and a Bachelor in Science in Biology Education from VCU. He is the director of Drums No Guns, a performing artsorganization that promotes youth non-violence. He created the educational program Science and Artistic Perception that incorporates drumming, drama and dancing with Chemistry.

Mario Duque

COMPOSER

Mario received a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the Instituto de Bellas Artes in Medellín. He founded and directed the group Los Rebeledes. The composer of the LBV production, "Macondo," he extracted the most profound meaning from the novel "One Hundred Years of Solitude",