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**WILLIAM CEPEDA** – JAZZ ARTIST-INNOVATOR, COMPOSER, TROMBONE, CONCH SHELLS

Known as a cultural icon of Puerto Rico, Grammy-nominated artist and composer William Cepeda revolutionized the field of Latin music in 1992 with his introduction of Afro-Rican Jazz, an innovative blend of world music, progressive jazz and traditional Puerto Rican roots and folk music and dance.

His ensemble has toured all over the world, performing in jazz festivals such as Montreux, NorthSea and Tabarka, as well as in performing arts venues and clubs.   

Born and raised in Loiza, the heart of “little Africa” in Puerto Rico, William Cepeda’s artistic excellence, authenticity and advocacy for rigorous research and comprehensive documentation of Puerto Rican music, dance and culture have earned him multiple awards, grants and recognition from the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, Meet The Composers, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Music Fund at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, American Composers Orchestra.  

A protégé of Dizzie Gillespie, William Cepeda was a member of his United Nation Orchestra, and Cepeda’s musical influences include artists like Miriam Makeba and Lester Bowie.

In addition to world music and jazz, William Cepeda’s oeuvre includes contemporary classical music with his introduction of Bomba Sinfonica, a full-length orchestral work for symphony, opera, choir and soloists.