KoSA CUBA
Havana Festival & Study Program
0ct 19-26, 2008Spend a few mind-blowing days immersed in the beautiful weather, culture, rhythms and percussion techniques of Cuban master drummers. Check out last year and years past by scrolling down below and see why you should be a part of KoSA Cuba 2008!
Call 1-800-541-8401 or visit us online for more information.
REVIEW: KoSA Cuba 2007 in Matanzas – a cultural paradise!
check out our photos! Set one Click Here Set two Click hereHavana, Cuba – November 21, 2007: For its sixth edition, the KoSA Cuba Workshops decided to spice things up in a different way by offering participants the unique opportunity to discover the Cuban rhythms and culture of the province of Matanzas, Cuba. “KoSA Cuba 2007: The Matanzas Project” was a cultural exploration of Cuban roots – Matanzas’ style. Like many countries, Cuba’s provinces have their distinctive traits which flavor their way of life. This can certainly be seen and felt in their art and especially their music. The province of Matanzas is truly a cultural paradise and this is exactly what participants coming from North America and Europe quickly realized.
The unforgettable week-long event included both masterclasses and intimate hands-on classes with Cuban greats . Nightly concerts were simply mind boggling – the level of talent indescribable as was the humbleness of the musicians. This year’s distinguished faculty included: Giraldo Piloto (Klimax) on drumset, Miguelon Rodriguez (Mestizaje) on drumset, conga and timbales, El Peje (Chucho Valdez) on drumset, and a new powerhouse drummer in Cuba – Rodney Barreto. Conga artists Julio Lopez Sanchez (Klimax), Forbès (Mestizaje), Jesús and Freddy from (Los Moniquitos de Matanzas) left a lasting impression on the participants. Timbale specialist Amadito Valdez (of the famed ensemble The Buena Vista Social Club ) gave a most interesting historical lecture on the evolution of drums and rhythms in Cuba. KoSA Cuba participants also had the chance to go to Havana to continue classes there and then they were back to the province of Matanzas in Varadero, Cuba where they enjoyed staying at a 4-star hotel while treated to Giraldo Piloto’s dazzling ensemble “Klimax”. Finally, a highlight of the event included a specially arranged two-day residency at the studio of the famed group – Los Moniquitos de Matanzas – an experience that soon will not be forgotten.
The KoSA Cuba International Percussion Workshops is directed by Aldo Mazza and coordinated by Dr. Jolán Kovács-Mazza. Plans are already under way for next years festival held at the end of October 2008. The event will be open to the international community and will be held in collaboration with the Havana Drum Festival. We hope you will consider joining us for this remarkable and life-changing experience. For more information about the Havana International Drum Festival and to find out how to register for the KoSA Cuba Workshops held in Havana, Cuba (October 2008), for more info and to register for future KoSA events, CD and DVD purchases, please make our website at www.kosamusic.com a frequent stop on your internet travels.
SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR OUR FRIENDS IN EUROPE!
Gebeten door Drums & Percussie?
In samenwerking met KoSA, een Canadese drum- en percussieschool die jaarlijks workshops op touw zet in de Verenigde Staten en Cuba, organiseert Divantoura de deelname voor Belgische & andere Europese geïnteresseerden aan deze unieke ‘life changing experience’. Onder leiding van verschillende topdrummers en percussionisten leer je technieken uit de diverse muziekculturen van Afrika, Azië, de Caribbean, Latijns-Amerika en Europa. Van pop tot rock, van etnisch tot klassiek, van handbespeelde instrumenten tot marimba, van drums tot de nieuwste fusies van technologie en traditie. Zowel voor beginners als gevorderden & bassisten. Interesse? Surf naar www.divantoura.be/themareizen of bel Dirk Vandewiele +32 9 223 00 69 in België.Bitten by Drums & Percussion?
In collaboration with KoSA, a Canadian school for drums and percussion, who yearly organises workshops in the USA and in Cuba, Divantoura coordinates the participation for Belgians & other Europeans interested in this unique 'life changing experience'. Supervised by different topdrummers and percussionists you will learn techniques from diverse music cultures from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. From pop to rock, form etnic to classic; from instruments played by hand to marimba, from drums to the newest fusions of technology and tradition. Both for beginners and advanced & bass players. Interested? Surf to www.divantoura.be/themareizen or call Dirk Vandewiele +32 9 223 00 69 in Belgium.
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We've had a great time in Cuba... here's our KoSA Cuba 2006 Report...
Havana, Cuba –November 1, 2006
The annual Havana International Drum Festival –“Festival Del Tambor” - was held in Havana, Cuba this past October. The event was established in honor of the great Cuban drummer, composer and arranger, Guillermo Barreto (Tommy Dorsey, Nat “King” Cole, Johnny Richards, Chico O’Farril Band), who is the uncle of one of Cuba’s top drummers – Giraldo Piloto. Giraldo Piloto now serves as the Artistic Director of the Festival.
For the fifth year, the KoSA Cuba Workshops teamed up with the Havana Drum Festival and held an unbelievable educational experience at the historic Havana Libre Hotel. Participants came from such diverse parts of the world such as Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, and North America to get immersed in Cuban culture and music. The week-long workshops which included both masterclasses and intimate hands-on classes with Cuban greats were led by the following distinguished faculty: Drumset artists Giraldo Piloto (Klimax), El Peje (Chucho Valdez), Oliver Valdez (Sylvio Rodriguez). and Julio el Pechere (National Television Orchestra). Conga artists included El Panga (Thomas Ramos), Julio (Klimax), Jesus Abreu (Los Papines), and Yaroldi Abreu. , Rumba specialist Alexis (Clave Y Guaguanco) got everyone playing and on their feet and extremely informative sessions on the development of Cuban music past and present were covered by ethnomusicologist Dr. Olavo.
All participants enjoyed the intensity of the mind-blowing concerts of the Havana Drum Festival which featured legendary Cuban artists such as Tata Guine, Changuito, Giraldo Piloto and Klimax, Yaroldi Abreu, Caraibe Girls, El Panga, Eliel, Oliver Valdés, Miguelon Rodriguez (Mestizaje), and Los Tres de la Havana.. Other facets of the event included an extensive visit to the musical instrument factory of Havana, participation in a traditional Rumba party, not to mention, a specially arranged open rehearsal of a traditional renowned Danson ensemble “Sensacion” featuring the famed soloist Amadito Valdez (Buena Vista Social Club). Nightly performances also included traditional folk music and dance groups (Grupo Bawson Samdi) and , Yoruba ensembles (Grupo Rumbatá), A special highlight of the event was the invitation to Columbian-born Memo Acevedo (Tito Puente), and Canadian artist Aldo Mazza (Répercussion; KoSA). Aldo and Memo played solo in the main concert event as well as sitting-in with Klimax.
Concurrent with the festival, a competition was held in five specific categories: conga, bongo, timbales, bata and drumset. It was amazing to see the young talent in this competition. Ages ranged from as young as 7 to 25 and all were at professional or nearly professional performing levels. Finalists performed in the grand finale concert on live national television and the winners each received an instrument and trophy. SABIAN cymbals provided the cymbal prize, the lucky drumset winner received a TAYE drumset and REGAL TIP drumsticks. Sponsors for the event included the Cuban Ministry of Culture, LP, Sabian, TAYE, KoSA, and Regal Tip.
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...and our KoSA CUBA 2005 Report:
The fourth edition of the KoSA CUBA Workshops took place in beautiful, historic Havana, Cuba in October of 2005. KoSA teamed up with the “Havana Drum Festival” (Fiesta Del Tambor) – a festival honoring the late and legendary drummer Guillermo Barreto. Canadian artists Charlie Cooley ( Caleb Porter; Manteca) and Aldo Mazza (Répercussion; artistic director and founder of the KoSA Percussion Workshops & Festival; and of the KoSA Academy) were invited by the festival director, Giraldo Piloto (Klimax) to give clinics and to perform to a packed and enthusiastic audience of some 2, 500 people at the “Teatro Nacional” of Havana. New to the already well-established Havana Drum Festival was teaming up with the KoSA Cuba Workshops.
The KoSA workshops schedule included daily classes in Cuban rhythms, visits to percussion instrument factories and a Yoruba temple, as well as informal gatherings with Havana musicians. The event took place in the famous Havana Libre Hotel complex. Participants worked on all aspects of Cuban drumming and music from traditional son, songo, bata rhythms, timba-funk creations and religious Yoruba traditions. Artists teaching the hands-on classes included many of Cuba’s top musicians such as: Giraldo Piloto and his ensemble Klimax, Yaroldy Abreu (Chucho Valdez), Adel Gonzales (Afro-Cuban All Stars), David Pimienta (Mezela), and Yi Yo (Los 3 de la Habana). Foreign participants coming from Mexico, the U.S, Canada and Iran mixed with local Cuban students to attend seminars in the history and development of Cuban music led by renown ethnomusicologist, Dr. Olavo Rodriguez. Finally, every evening participants were treated to attending great local performances as well as concerts by the outstanding line-up of artists featured at the Havana Drum Festival. Performers included Giraldo Piloto and his ensemble Klimax, Los Papines, Los Moniquitos de Matanzas, los 3 de la Habana, Yaroldy Abreu, Salsa Fever, Oliver Valdez, Bobby Carcasses, and the Chucho Valdez Quartet.
KoSA Cuba / Havana Drum Festival is fast becoming an important cultural event which enables bridges to be formed between the rest of the world and the musically-rich island of Cuba..KoSA continues to bring together musicians from around the world with Cuban artists and Cuban music students in an extaordinary musical environment. At this year’s edition of the Havana Drum Festival, KoSA has continued to bring instruments and organized that winners of the national contest be awarded a brand new professional drumset by TAYE, cymbals from SABIAN and drumsticks by REGAL TIP. A hearty thank-you to all these manufacturers for graciously donating these instruments.
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