About me
MASK & RHYTHM WORKSHOPS INFO: 787-448-6890 E-MAIL melendez1969@aol.com AutoBiography of Kenneth A. Melendez Kenneth A. Melendez musical career began in the Late 70?s. By the age of ten, he was playing out. Kenneth was a self-taught musician on the congas until that early age, when his musical training began at the School of Fine Arts of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Today he plays different percussion instruments. After his Puerto Rico upbringing, he moved back to Lorain, Ohio where he further playing in local bands, which led to performing throughout the United States with various musical groups. Kenneth finishes High school and continues College, major in graphic design. Moved back to Puerto Rico, where He is very active in the music and art scene. Kenneth played on different Latin groups such as, la Terrifica, Conjunto la Perla, Plena y Bembe, Los Pleneros del Barrio, Los Calvos Jazz, Roberto Ocasio Jazz band, Pedrito Guzman Jibarro Jazz, Know playing for la familia sanabria a renown folk music group from Puerto Rico, which Kenneth has form part for over 6 years. 10-to-20 gigs a month and more than 50 festival and event performances per season. Shared the stage with major national artists such as Plenarium, Tommy Olivencia, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuel, Andres Jimenes, Joseph Fonseca, Eddie Palmieri, Samuel Hernandez, Plena Libre, Olga Tanon, Grupo Mania, Kao's, Andy Montanez, El Gran Combo, Sonora Poncena amoung Others. As a Artisan Kenneth likes to create traditional masks with different material such as: burlap, coconut, wood, royal palm, paper Mache, gourd, foam, plastic, and wire mash. He has exhibit his art Works in the; museum McDonough Youngstown, Ohio; Esqueleto gallery Oberlin, Ohio; Lorain County Community College gallery Lorain, Ohio; jazz gallery San Fransico, California; American History Museum Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.; museum of Puerto Rican culture San Juan, Puerto Rico; museum of art Ponce, Puerto Rico; to name a few. While maintaining the heavy performing schedule, Kenneth teaches and strenuously promotes knowledge of art, and Latin music taking his talents to schools, organizations, universities, and community programs sponsored by clients such as Ohio Latino Art Association, Institute of Culture of Puerto Rico, the tourism company of Puerto Rico, Lorain Board of Education, Chicago Board of Education, Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, Columbus Recreational Parks. His emphasis is specially directed towards art and music. Now, Kenneth is teaching kids, teens and adults the importance of his Puerto Rican cultural traditions througt the Arts. He now travels the United States, Europe, The Caribbean and Puerto Rico with his Masks and Rhythms workshops. PRESENTATION, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITS 2012 -Mask, Puppets & Rhythm workshop CityFolk Fest. Dayton, Ohio -cultural exchange guadaloupe, island -cultural exchange varios city of Italy, Europe 2011 -Artisans RECOGNITION Carnaval Ponceño, Ponce, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm workshops youth with impediments programs and juvenile institutional programs, Arte para sanar Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask maker for the traditional costume for Miss Universe representative of Puerto Rico 2010 -Mask & Rhythm workshops youth with impediments programs, Arte para sanar Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm workshop Esperanza and Julia de Burgos organizations,Cleveland Ohio -Mask & Rhythm workshop El Centro de Servicio Social, Lorain Ohio -Mask, Puppets & Rhythm workshop CityFolk Fest. Dayton, Ohio 2009 -Mask & Rhythm workshops Juvenile institutionals programs, Arte para sanar Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm workshops Expres-arte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Rhythm workshop Percussion Paridise Ranch, Valencia California -Music recording Esencia, P&B Music Studio Villalba Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm workshop El Centro de Servicio Social, Lorain Ohio -Mask & Rhythm workshop CityFolk Fest. Dayton, Ohio -Carnival mask exhibit Plaza Del Caribe Ponce, Puerto Rico -Mask exhibit “Carnaval Ponceño” Castill o Seralles Ponce, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm workshops Arte para sanar Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm workshops Expresarte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico 2008 -Entre amigos percussion workshop Willie Rosario Fine Arts Coamo P.R. -Bomba workshop Carnaval Ponce P.R. -Mask workshop City Folk Fest. Dayton Ohio2011 -Artisans RECOGNITION Carnaval Ponceño, Ponce, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm workshops youth with impediments programs and juvenile institutional programs, Arte para sanar Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico 2007 -Mask & Rhythm workshops Arte en lo barrios Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & rhythm workshops Aspira Chicago,IL -Music presentation Heineken jazz fest. Anfiteatro Tito Puente San Juan, P.R. -Mask & Rhythm workshop El Centro de Servicio Social Lorain, Ohio -Rhythm workshop VSM World Music Weekend 2007 Lakewood, Ohio -Mask workshop Music in the Air Columbus, Ohio -Mask workshop CityFolk Fest. Dayton, Ohio 2006 -Mask & Rhythm workshops Expres-arte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask workshop Music In The Air Columbus, Ohio -Rhythm workshop for the Roberto Ocasio foundation summer music camp Cleveland, Ohio -Mask & Rhythms workshops CityFolk Fest. Dayton, Ohio -Signed with remo percussion instruments, USA -cd Recording Familia Sanabria Vientos de Trova y Plena P&B Music Studio Villalba, Puerto Rico -Music Presentation Ibero Americano Games Ponce, Puerto Rico -Music Presentation Limite 21 Roberto Clemente San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythms workshops Antonia Pantojas school, Chicago -Mask workshop Latino Fest. Wisconsin, Milwaukee 2005 -Mask & Rhythms workshops Expres-arte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -cd Recording Junito y Secretos a Voces Sensoround Studio Mayeguaz, Puerto Rico -Mask workshop Music In The Air Columbus, Ohio -Mask workshop Latino Fest. Toledo, Ohio -Mask & Rhythms workshops Antonia Pantojas school, Chicago -Mask workshop Latino Fest. Wisconsin, Milwaukee -cd Recording Compania Jibara, P&B Music Villalba, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythms workshops Central High School ST.Croix US Virgin Islands 2004 -Mask & Rhythms workshops Cultural Exchange Santiago, Dominican republic -Mask & Rhythms workshops Expres-arte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask workshop Music In The Air Columbus, Ohio -Mask workshops Latino Fest. Toledo, Ohio -Mask & Rhythms workshops Latino Fest. Lorain, Ohio -Mask workshop Latino Fest. Wisconsin, Milwaukee 2003: -Mask & Rhythms workshops Cultural Exchange Santiago, Dominican republic -Music Presentation Felle y Amigos Las Tablas Santiago, Dominican Republic -Mask & Rhythms workshops Expres-arte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Rhythm Presentation Roberto Clemente School Chicago, ILL -Carnival mask exhibit Casa Escute Carolina, Puerto Rico -Expresarte Art Presentation TV Program canel 6 San Juan, Puerto Rico 2002: -Mask & Rhythms workshops Expres-arte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythm from Puerto Rico Presentation Fitur World fair Madrid, Spain -Mask & Rhythms workshops Cultural Exchange Santiago, Dominican republic -Artist Recognition Casa Cultural Dominican Republic -Mask & Rhythm from Puerto Rico Presentation ITB World fair Berlin, Germany -Mask workshop Music In The Air Columbus, Ohio -Mask workshops Latino Fest. Toledo, Ohio 2001: -Carnival mask exhibit El Rostro Oculto Museum of Ponce, Puerto Rico -Art Presentation TV Program Desde Mi Pueblo canel 6 San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythms workshops Central High School ST.Croix US Virgin Islands -Mask exhibit carnaval Centro Indigena de Tibes Ponce, Puerto Rico 2000: -Folk Music workshops mayor schools in Puerto Rico Expres-arte Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask workshop Ohio Latino Arts Council Columbus, Ohio -Rhythms workshop Ohio Latino Arts Council Columbus, Ohio -Mask & Rhythms workshops Music In The Air Columbus, Ohio -Rhythms workshop Fire House Columbus, Ohio 1999: -Artistic Presentation Jossie y Nuestra Gente Puerto Rican parade Manhattan, New York -Mask exhibit Espiritus Del Pasado Fine Arts Center Guayama, Puerto Rico -Music Presentation World Folk Music Fest. Palmas de Mallorca, Spain -Carnival mask exhibit & Book Presentation Plaza Del Caribe Ponce, Puerto Rico -Mask exhibit Espiritus Del Pasado Cultural Center Ponce, Puerto Rico -Art exhibit Ohio Latino Art Lorain County Community Collage Lorain, Ohio -Mask & Rhythms workshops Central High School ST.Croix US Virgin Islands -Art Props & Music Composition for MovieUnder Suspicion recorded in San Juan, Puerto Rico 1998: -Mask & Rhythm Presentation Holiday Celebrations Smithsonia Nacional Museum of American History Washington, D.C. sponser fomento company of Puerto Rico -Magazine Presentation Mascaras Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask workshop Ohio Latino Arts Association Toledo, Ohio -Mask exhibit Tradicional Masks from Puerto Rico Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Artist Recognition Puerto Rican Institute of Culture San Juan, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythms workshops Bronx High Schools Bronx, New York -Artistic Presentation Puerto Rican parade Manhattan, New York -Art exhibit Mascaras y Atuendos Castillo Seralles Ponce, Puerto Rico -Mask exhibit Herencia Carnavalescas Centro Indigena de Tibes Ponce, Puerto Rico -Music Presentation Don Fransico TV Show Univision, USA 1997: -Music Presentation World Folk Music Fest. Palmas de Mallorca, Spain -Mask workshop for Video American Culture for Children Puerto Rican Heritage, Schlessinger Video Production USA -Art exhibit Multi-Culture Treads Lorain County Community Collage Lorain, Ohio -Art exhibit Carnaval Ponce Castillo Seralles Ponce, Puerto Rico -Mask & Rhythms workshops Columbia University Manhattan, New York -Artistic Presentation Puerto Rican parade Manhattan, New York 1996: -Mask & Rhythms workshops for Historical Resources of Puerto Rico Oganization Lorain Ohio -Mask & Rhythms workshops lincon Elementary school Lorain, Ohio 1995: -Mask exhibit in Castillo Seralles Museum Ponce, Puerto Rico 1994: -Mask exhibit & Music Presentation Museum Mcdonough Youngstown, Ohio -Mask & Rhythms workshops Youngstown University Youngstown, Ohio 1993: -Mask exhibit Mask Traditions Esqueleto gallery Oberlin, Ohio Kenneth A. Melendez is endorsed by: Remo INSTRUMENTS Multi-percussionist: Afropuertorican Folkloric Percussion Barriles de Bomba, Panderos de Plena. Afrocuban Popular and Folkloric Percussion Tumbadoras, Bongo, Timbal, Bata, Chekere, Cajones de Rumba, minor percussion. Afrodominican Popular and Folkloric Percussion Tambora, guira null
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