Master Resident Instructors

PRAA’s Latin Music Project (LMP) program proudly supports an ongoing partnership with several Master Resident Instructors who serve as internationally recognized ambassadors to Latin music; and who also advocate for an equitable music education for all. LMP works closely with these Master Resident Instructors to provide advanced private and classroom instruction to students who are enrolled in our LMP Center classes and partnering public school programs. LMP’s instructor residencies can range from a one-day workshop – to a more intensive week-long “music camp,” where students have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in Latin American music and culture, and have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn directly from these visiting master instructors.

For more details about our Master Resident Instructor program, or if you are interested in becoming one of our Master Resident Instructors, please email music@praachicago.org or call (773) 342-8865 x111.

Roselín Pabón

Professor of Instrumental Management and Director of the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Pabón is also Director Emeritus of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. In 1968 he received his Baccalaureate in Piano from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at the University of John Hopkins in Baltimore Maryland and in 1978 he obtained a Master’s Degree in Orchestra Conducting from the University of Indiana at Bloomington. During his studies, he was awarded scholarships from the Ford Foundation, the University of Indiana, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, the University of Puerto Rico, and the Department of Education of Puerto Rico.

For more than three decades he has distinguished himself by directing the symphonic repertoire, operas, zarzuelas, ballets, and pops music. As Guest Director he has appeared in the United States, Spain, Italy, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Maestro Pabón has also distinguished himself in the direction of numerous premieres of works by composers of Puerto Rico. Among his piano teachers are Julio Esteban, Jesús Maria Sanromá, and Marian Hall. He studied orchestra conducting with Tibor Kozma, Wolfgang Vacano and Thomas Baldner; opera direction with Bryan Balkwill, and choral direction with Margarte Hillis and John Nelson.

Among the honors he has received are the honorary doctorate in Arts of the Inter-American University, the Mangó de Oro from his hometown, Mayagüez, the Coquí de Oro, and the UNESCO Medal for his contribution to the dissemination of symphonic music in Puerto Rico. He was recently exalted to the Hall of Fame of the Musicians of Puerto Rico. In 1979, he won the competition to select the first assistant director of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Pabón has recorded several albums of Puerto Rican music and a video with the famous guitarist Ángel Romero.

Luis Sanz

Luis is a Professor of Music at the Interamerican University. He is considered one of the most outstanding “Cuatrista” composers, an arranger, and performer of several musical instruments. In addition, he is a mentor and artist in residency for the Latin Music Project program by Puerto Rican Arts Alliance. In 2017, Luis performed at the Latin Grammy Awards with the rapper artist Residente. He collaborated with Lin- Manuel Miranda, creator of Hamilton, on a film for the documentary Discover Puerto Rico. His studies include, a Bachelor of Composition from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and a second Bachelor of Arts with a minor concentration in Musical Education from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. Recently, Luis received his Masters in Composition from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Dr. Isaac Lausell

Dr. Isaac leads the guitar program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) School of Music where he joined the faculty in the fall of 2012. At SIUC, Lausell teaches classical and jazz guitar, Fretboard Harmony, Guitar Ensembles, sight-reading for guitar, Studio class, History of Fretted Instruments, and plays with the Jazz Ensemble in residence – the New Arts Jazztet.

Prior to his appointment at SIUC, Dr. Lausell taught at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Escuela Especializada Ernesto Ramos Antonini (public music school grades 7 – 12), State University of New York at Stony Brook, University of North Texas (community music program), Ridgecrest Elementary School in Houston, Texas, Escuela Libre de Música de Humacao (public music school grades 7 – 12), and Academia de Música Pena in Puerto Rico.

Dr. Lausell has played with artists such as: Ray Anderson, C.E. Askey, Ignacio Berroa, Coco Freeman, Chris Carrington, Kenwood Dennard, Ricky Encarnación, Jon Faddis, Eddie Gómez, Heaven Report, Rick Lathan, Matt Margvulio, Paoli Mejias, Fidel Morales, Zvonimir Tot, Marcello Pellitteri, Marco Pignataro, Proyecto EVIF, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Jore Vizcarrondo, Bill Smith, Oscar Stagnaro, Norbert Stachel, 33DC, and the Stony Brook Baroque Players.

Hermelindo Ruiz Mestre

Hermelindo is an International Classical Guitarist, composer, and an artist of great sensitivity who stands out in the cultural environment of his island, Puerto Rico. In 2005, he received an award from the Senate of Puerto Rico, and in 2006, he was recognized by the Puerto Rican Youth Commission and by the Puerto Rican Association of UNESCO. Hermelindo has been described as a: “Fine composer, creative guitarist, and human being of great virtues.” He was awarded a scholarship by the Institute of Culture of Puerto Rico in 2007 – and by the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico in 2008. He studied with the distinguished guitarist and composer Luis Enrique Juliá, and perfected his technique with Dr. José Antonio Lopez.

He has undergone the rigor of the master classes by ten international figures in the field of classical music. Some of these are the French Classical Guitarist; Roland Dyens, Bosnian Classical Guitarist; Dennis Azabagic, Argentine Classical Guitarist; Jorge Morel, Paraguayan Classical Guitarist; Berta Rojas, and the Uruguayan Classical Guitarist; Eduardo Fernández. Composition seems to be a natural mode of expression for Hermelindo, and his catalog of works includes numerous original pieces, as well as very interesting arrangements for the classical concert guitar. His goals include continuing to work for his Puerto Rican community, and give back to the cultural artistic expression of Puerto Rico. He also hopes to contribute to the world through his music.

Carlos Gabriel Cabrera

Carlos Gabriel is a virtuoso performer on the Puerto Rican cuatro. Starting at the age of seven, he quickly developed a mastery of the instrument. Carlos participated in the school choir for ten years and in the school band for seven years. At the age of eleven he recorded his first album “Algo Para Entretenerse” in 2011 and he released his second album “Riete Carlitos” in 2012. With more than 12 years of experience, Carlos has performed in many countries including the United States, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, and Spain. He released his third album “Afinando” in May 2019. Currently, he is in his fifth semester at Berklee College of Music studying Contemporary Writing and Production, along with Music Production and Engineering.

Jorge Camacho

Jorge Camacho has served as the Founder and Executive Director of Rondalla de Humacao since 1984. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. Jorge studied classical guitar with three of the best Puerto Rican Guitar Maestros: Ernesto Cordero, Leonardo Egurbida, and Juan Sorroche.  He has been teaching guitar and Puerto Rico’s national string instrument “el cuatro” for over thirty years. He specializes in teaching children 5 years and older, youth, and children with special needs.