PRIAA presents: FAMILY IN BOMBA-NEW ENGLAND, Opening William Cepeda Concert, DATE: AUGUST 14, 2022 @Casino, Roger Williams Park Bandstand... @6:00PM

From Rhode Island: Lydia Perez is the founder and artistic director of the Puerto Rican Institute of Arts and Advocacy, Inc., (PRIAA), and founder of Yoruba 2, an award-winning and nationally recognized traditional music group from Puerto Rico. The group is known for playing genres of Puerto Rican folk music such as "bomba", and other Caribbean rhythms. Lydia has spent the last twenty-eight years as an interpreter and cultural educator/activist in the United States as well as Puerto Rico, Cuba and has been recognized as a Presenter, Artists Producer, Artisan of Wood Carver, Paper Mache Masks making and a community asset in Rhode Island. Her work has been in great demand by the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts (RISCA), the Rhode Island Foundation, the RI Council on the Humanities, Providence Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism, First Work, Pawtucket Foundation, Hartford Performs, New England cultural arts organizations, school departments in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) from Puerto Rico specifically asked PRIAA to represent the beauty of Puerto Rican culture at the 2019 Conference of the National Assembly of State Art Agencies (NASSA). On October 30, 2021, Lydia Perez brought to Rhode Island the "Centro de la Herencia Cultural". (CHC), a new center for practice the Puerto Rican Culture and exchange of traditional cultures.
From Boston:
Jorge Arce Jorge Arce, M.Ed. 1995, Harvard University; Boston Conservatory of Music (musical-theater),1985, doctoral-candidate and showcased-artist. Born: Puerto Rico. Actor, singer, composer, dancer, choreographer, graphic artist, and educator. Founder-Director of: Raíz de Plena (Puerto Rico and Boston) and Humano (Boston Music Awards 1991. Member of Haciendo Punto en Otro Son (Puerto Rico, 1978-1983);), (Atabal (Puerto Rico, 1979-1983). Recording productions: Compilation-Compilaciones 1992-2013, among many others. Founded Humano Multicultural Project (1987). Since then, his musical-theater one-man Afro-Caribeño show has been sharing important cultural values. Locally and abroad recognition. Among many awards: 1992 Drylongso Award, for consistent courageous contribution in the struggle against racism, 2013 Boston City Council Recognition for Commitment in Building a Better Boston, 2013 African Diaspora Arts & Culture Award: outstanding achievement in preserving diverse cultural arts forms of African People in Diaspora Presented by ABDM, Inc, 2013 Jorge Hernández Leadership Award, excellence in expression culture arts, history and pride of Latinos and Latin American Diaspora presented by IBA, Inc., 2014 Community Catalyst Award: contributions to art and culture in Roxbury-Greater Boston by Hibernian Hall and Madison Park Project, 2017 National Hispanic Heritage Month Award by Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Mass-Port, 2019 Lawrence International Book Fair: Teacher of the Arts Special recognition, 2012 Traditional Arts Fellowship Finalist by Massachusetts Cultural Council & 2019 Brother Thomas Fellowship awarded by Boston Foundation, 2020 Excellency Award and Recognition (including City’s Official Key and Banner) by the City of Ponce, PR. From Western Massachussets:
Brendaliz Cepeda, of Western Massachusetts is the granddaughter of Rafael Cepeda who is known for being the patriarch of Bomba in PR and outside PR. Brendaliz has a master's in special education which she taught for thirteen years. In 2013 she started a local group called Bomba de Caribe. Caribe means a type of music Bomba dance from PR. Years later she met her husband (Saul) and both decided to change the group Name to Bomba de Aquí. Both Brendaliz and Saul have been working hard with the community teaching youth and adults about folklore Música Bomba. In 2021 they both formed an afterschool program called Multicultural Learning Center. Which currently covers ten schools with three employees teaching schools about Puerto Rico culture through the arts. Brendaliz is also a motivational, cultural speaker at universities and schools all over New England. Her mission is to continue the work of her grandfather through teaching youth Puerto Rican Culture. Saul “El Pulpo” Peñaloza, of Western Massachusetts, started percussion playing at the age of 6 under the tutelage of Ernesto Vigoreaux School, and Luis Llorens Torres—there Saul began his first steps in music playing the conga as a strong player, eventually venturing into the drums and little by little continuing on until he knew the basic rhythms of percussion and become a full fledge percussionist. It was at the Ernesto Vigoreaux school that Saul’s mentor - Víctor (Tico) Fuentes and Mrs. Norma Salazar taught Saul the history of the bomba and then began to go to play/learn and play with them. Saul is also an accomplished Plenero player—playing with renown plena groups like “Barreto and His Plenealo,” show. Today Saul is the Musical Director and Leader Singer of Bomba de Aqui alongside his wife Brendaliz Cepeda daughter of Roberto Cepeda, Granddaughter of Rafael Cepeda. Saul is also a part of a New England all start band called “Chocoband,” where he plays the congas/percussionist playing multiple musical genres.
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