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Juan Pastor

About Me

Percussionist and Composer

Juan D. Pastor Jazz and Percussion Performer, Educator I began studying percussion under the tutelage of Eusebio Sirio “Pititi,” master of Afro-Peruvian percussion. At the Concervatorio Nacional de Lima, I studied classical music for five years. After realizing my interest in jazz, I moved to Chicago to study at Northern Illinois University where I received a Bachelor of Music and was part of the top jazz ensemble under the direction of Ronald Carter. I also studied under Greg Beyer, Rich Holly and Robert Chappell. In 2013 I received my Masters of Music from DePaul University studying under Dana Hall. During my tenure there, I was a TA in the jazz department under the direction of Bob Lark. I have played jazz festivals all over the world, in Europe at the North Sea Jazz Festival, IAJE in New York, The Chicago Jazz Fest , The Lima Jazz Fest, Nicaraguan Jazz Fest and more. In addition, I have had the honor of playing with notable recording artists such as Howard Leavy, Jimmy Heath, Fareed Haque, Patricia Barber, Ryan Cohan, The Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble CALJE, Ian Torres Big Band, Marquis Hill, Victor Garcia, and many others. Currently I am an adjunct music faculty member at Benedictine University and a Percussion instructor for the After-School Partnership Program at DePaul University. In 2011, I was commissioned by Elmhurst College to write a piece for the percussion ensemble. The piece, “Tiene Picante,” integrates traditional rhythms from Peru with a more traditional percussion flavor. Chinchano is my band - a fusion of jazz and Peruvian rhythms.

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Juan Pastor

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