This summer, students and faculty from Florida State University’s College of Music embarked on a concert tour through Costa Rica to share music and culture.
The group was hosted by the Centro Cultural Costarricense-Norteamericano (Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center) as part of the Promising Young Artists program, which receives some funding from the U.S. Embassy.
From May 13-19, the delegation toured the Central American nation. They held performances in the capital of San José and in Monteverde and Puntarenas on the Pacific Coast. In addition to performances and educational masterclasses at multiple local schools, participants enjoyed the cloud rainforest, beaches, local markets, great food and natural beauty of Costa Rica.
“This program offers a transformational international experience for students and faculty through shared musicianship and cultural experiences,” said Greg Jones, associate dean for community engagement at the College of Music.
The group performed at local schools, including the Instituto Nacional de la Música in San José and the Liceo de Miramar in Miramar. They also performed concerts at several venues, including the Jazz Club El Sótano and the Eugene O’Neill Theater in San José, and the Guarumos’ Amphitheater in Monteverde, Puntarenas.
The group taught masterclasses at the Instituto Nacional de la Música in San Jose and the Etapa Básica de Música in Miramar.
The students who participated in the tour were selected through an entrepreneurship program within the College of Music launched in 2023. The program hosts an internal competition among student ensembles and receives support from the U.S. Embassy and the Les and Ruth Akers Fund for Entrepreneurial Activity in Music. Students submitted video performances and a proposed program to engage a broad audience using music.
David Detweiler, associate professor of Jazz Saxophone, coached the students and joined the group on their tour. The 10 jazz majors in the delegation, all members of the Honors Jazz Combo at FSU, included pianists Sammy Hanson and Asher Pereira; bassists Dane Harter and Kaleb Thompkins; drummers Nygel Anderson and Rudi Neubrander; saxophonists Kyle Bramson and Tyler Pauletti; trombonist Steven Blake; and trumpeter Wayne Pearcy.
“We are very thankful for the support of the Akers as we prepare talented musicians for 21st century careers,” Jones said. “These innovative collaborations are inspiring great creativity in our students, with impressive results and experiential learning to last a lifetime.”
For more information about the FSU College of Music, visit music.fsu.edu.
