Our Concert has  SOLD OUT! 
Thank you to all who will attend.

Please note:  All tickets for Thursday's event have been secured
and there will be no sales at the door.

Grammy-winning Jazz Musician Paquito D’Rivera to play SUNY College at Old Westbury

Cuban-born saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, winner of two 2011 Latin Grammys, performs with his quintet at the John and Lillian Maguire Theater at SUNY College at Old Westbury on Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for general admission for the concert, which is being presented by the College’s Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center. 

Born in Cuba, D’Rivera began his career as a child prodigy. A restless musical genius during his teen years, D’Rivera created various original and ground-breaking musical ensembles. As a founding member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna, he directed that group for two years, while at the same time playing both the clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra.

He eventually went on to premiere several works by notable Cuban composers with the same orchestra. Additionally, he was a founding member and co-director of the innovative musical ensemble Irakere. With its explosive mixture of jazz, rock, classical and traditional Cuban music never before heard, Irakere toured extensively throughout America and Europe, won several Grammy nominations (1979, 1980) and a Grammy (1979).

D’Rivera’s most recent release, Panamericana, won two 2011 Grammys, for “Best Latin Jazz Album” and “Best Classical Contemporary Compostion.”

In addition to his extraordinary performing career as an instrumentalist, D’Rivera has rapidly gained a reputation as a dynamic composer. His works often reveal his widespread and eclectic musical interests, ranging from Afro-Cuban rhythms and melodies, including influences encountered in his many travels, and back to his classical origins.

The John and Lillian Maguire Theater is located in the Campus Center building on the campus of SUNY College at Old Westbury, located on Route 107 off exit 41-North of the Long Island Expressway.  For ticket information, call 516-876-3987 or email madurkaz@oldwestbury.edu.