Jocelyn Alvarez
Voted "Rising Star of the Year" and Runner up, in the "Studio
Percussionist" category in DRUM!
Magazine’s 2009 Readers Poll, Jocelyn
Alvarez is a young, proud Latina of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent.
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Jocelyn has an exciting, playing
style and a deep musical knowledge, which allows her a wide ranging musical
styles including Latin Jazz, Salsa, Hip-hop, Neo Soul, and Gospel.
Jocelyn began her musical instruction on piano, flute and vocals. It
was then that she realized her true passion was percussion with a focus
on hand percussion. Her early mentor, Jose
Madera, Tito
Puente’s former
bandleader, first introduced her to the Harbor
Conservatory of the Performing Arts, a 26-year-old cultural landmark in New York City’s Spanish Harlem.
There she studied with world-class Latin percussionists including George
Delgado, Johnny Almendra and others. Currently, Jocelyn is pursuing a
Bachelor of Music degree at the Nyack School of Music where she is majoring
in Music Performance/Percussion. Ultimately, her goals are to continue
performing and to pass on the gift of music through teaching.
Jocelyn has appeared on several different recording projects from commercials
to CDs and DVDs. Her long lists of performances include appearances at
festivals, banquets, weddings and corporate events with clients such
as North Fork Bank. She had the honor of performing at Lincoln Center's
Avery Fisher Hall with other musicians from the Nyack School of Music.
In more intimate settings she's performed in small combos and alongside
DJ's in small clubs and coffeehouses. Her talent, creativity, and dynamics
make her an invaluable musician in group settings as well as a passionate
solo performer.
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