There are very few world-renowned, self-taught musicians who can claim to be a mentee of Dizzy Gillespie. There are still fewer musicians who, additionally, have received ten (10) Grammy Awards, six (6) Billboard Awards, one (1) Emmy Award and one (1) Presidential Medal of Freedom. Arturo Sandoval is just such a musician and Duke Ellington School of the Arts Instrumental Music Department students were fortuitous enough to be surprised with a visit from Mr. Sandoval on Friday November 15, 2019 while he was in town to perform at Washington, DC’s famed Blues Alley Jazz Club.
During Mr. Sandoval’s visit, he shared with the students the story of his career, how he started playing instruments in Cuba, met Dizzy Gillespie and the tremendous impact Mr. Gillespie had on his life. The importance of pursing your passion despite the difficulties that may impede your path was a salient message Mr. Sandoval delivered, to which, the students could surely relate. Additionally, the criticality of technique development, outstanding tone production and continuous study and practice of their instrument as well as music theory were also emphasized by Mr. Sandoval. Upon completion of his visit with the students, Mr. Sandoval was gracious enough to visit with some of our faculty who were just as, if not more, enamored to meet Mr. Sandoval than the students.
Mr. Sandoval started a non-profit organization, The Arturo Sandoval Institute, to help bring music education, instruments and financial support to students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to continue their music education or obtain exposure to the benefits of learning instrumental music. The Duke Ellington School of the Arts Instrumental Music Department looks forward to developing opportunities to work with The Arturo Sandoval Institute and Mr. Sandoval on future learning endeavors.
*See more images from Mr. Sandoval’s visit in the Photo Gallery
