Lehman’s 3-Day Latin, Jazz Music Fest, Named After NYC Salsa Pioneer Johnny Pacheco, Begins Nov. 13

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Photo of Jazz Musicians
Photo of Jazz Musicians

Bronx trumpeter Eganam Segbefia, who launched his career busking at Grand Central Station during rush hour, will perform at Lehman College’s 11th annual Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival, performing with Lehman College jazz faculty and guests on Thursday, Nov. 14, and with the school’s Student Jazz Ensemble on Friday, Nov. 15.

The Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival started in 2010 as a way to showcase budding musicians. The festival, named after Latin music pioneer Johnny Pacheco, offers performance and learning opportunities for talented young musicians studying music in New York City schools. Approximately 250 middle school, high school and college music students participate in the festival each year.

“Year after year, this festival features exceptional musicians, hard-working students and the vibrant Bronx community in a celebration of Jazz and Latin Music.” said Allan Molnar, a music lecturer at Lehman College and the festival’s producer and artistic director. “Johnny Pacheco lived and worked in the Bronx, making it fitting for Lehman to host this festival. We are very proud to have this opportunity to honor the amazing legacy of Dr. Pacheco by supporting music education and by being a part of the rich cultural life here in the Bronx.”

The Pacheco Festival takes place in the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College. Admission is free and open to the public, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The Pacheco Festival brings Latin music and jazz to an international audience by making its livestream (lehman.edu/jazzfeststream) available to school audiences worldwide for all daytime and evening performances. The evening performances of the 2019 Pacheco Festival will also be simulcast live on Bronxnet Television.

Festival Schedule
Student Performances

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 13-15, student jazz and Latin ensembles perform 10 a.m.— 2 p.m. (on Wednesday, they play until 3:30 p.m.)

Thursday, Nov. 14
7:30 p.m.: The Victor Lin Trio, featuring Daniel Stein and Andrew Latona (Directed by Victor Lin, Director, Jazz Studies, Calhoun School)
The Pacheco Festival Latin Jazz Ensemble, featuring Lehman Music Department faculty, festival directors, clinicians and special guests (Directed by Allan Molnar, Jazz Lecturer, Lehman College)

Friday, Nov. 15

2:15 p.m. Panel Discussion
The New Jazz Standard: Gender Equity in Jazz: A panel discussion featuring Eganam Segbefia and students and faculty of the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music. Moderators: Victoria Smith, Dania Miguel

7:30 p.m. Grand Finale Performance
The Lehman College Jazz Ensemble, featuring guest artist: Enganam Segbefia (Directed by Allan Molnar)
The Lehman College Guitar Ensemble (Directed by Robert Windbiel)

The Johnny Pacheco Latin Music and Jazz Festival program is supported in part by a grant from The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc.

For more information about the festival, visit lehman.edu/jazzfest.