World-Class Music
A 1993 graduate of Kenyon, Alegría went on to earn a master's degree in jazz music from the City College of New York. "As an alumnus of the College, Alegría understands that it is just this sort of close mentoring of students that makes the experience of being a student at Kenyon so rich," says Associate Professor of Music Theodore Buehrer.
As a composer as well as trumpet player, Alegría has become a leading figure in world jazz music and jazz education, appearing or recording with Maria Schneider, Placido Domingo, Ingrid Jensen, the Lima Philharmonic, the Peruvian National Symphony, John Benitez, Bill Watrous, John Thomas, and Alex Acuña.
In May 2005, Alegría conducted and recorded Didier Lockwood's Afro-Peruvian jazz opera Libertad, commissioned by Radio France and Opera Montpellier. He will be the subject of a documentary film about Afro-Peruvian jazz music by Lonnie Goodwin, scheduled to premiere in February 2006. Alegría is working on a touring and recording project titled "One World (Not Three)," scheduled for release in December 2006. His group performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators annual conference in New York City this month.
"Having a group of Alegría's caliber on campus provides a wonderful opportunity for the Kenyon community to experience how jazz music has been appropriated and blended with another indigenous musical tradition," says Buehrer. The group will perform at 8:00 p.m. Thursday in the College's Rosse Hall Auditorium. The concert is sponsored by Kenyon's Gund Concert Series and is open to the public at no charge.