COFAC Latin American Arts Festival
September - October
The Department of Music presents Latin American composers, music and artists through out the months of September and October. Featured guests include Cultura Plenera Ensemble, Sonia Ivette Morales-Matos, and Whistling Hens.
Events are supported in part by the COFAC Diversity & Inclusion Grant, the New Music Ensemble at Towson University and the Maryland State Arts Council. Learn more about MSAC’s great work at www.msac.org.
The Department of Music presents Latin American composers, music and artists through out the months of September and October. Featured guests include Cultura Plenera Ensemble, Sonia Ivette Morales-Matos, and Whistling Hens.
Events are supported in part by the COFAC Diversity & Inclusion Grant, the New Music Ensemble at Towson University and the Maryland State Arts Council. Learn more about MSAC’s great work at www.msac.org.
Música de cámara
Sunday, September 21, 3 p.m. - Recital Hall
Join us for an afternoon of evocative and exhilarating music as the faculty of TU's Department of Music perform works by Latin American composers! Featured on the program will be "Divertimento Caribeño No. 2" by Sonia Morales-Matos, "Descarga" by Ernesto Cordero, and music by Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal.
Sunday, September 21, 3 p.m. - Recital Hall
Join us for an afternoon of evocative and exhilarating music as the faculty of TU's Department of Music perform works by Latin American composers! Featured on the program will be "Divertimento Caribeño No. 2" by Sonia Morales-Matos, "Descarga" by Ernesto Cordero, and music by Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal.
Bomba Workshop with Cultura Plenera: Rhythms of Puerto Rico
Sunday, September 28, 3 p.m. - CA 3071
Embrace and participate in the rhythms of Puerto Rico in this guided workshop by Cultura Plenera! This is an interactive experience with visitors taking up hand drums and learning traditional Puerto Rican rhythms. Drum, sing, dance, or listen with curiosity.
Cultura Plenera is a non-profit organization dedicated to community building in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia region through the traditional Puerto Rican musical styles. Its mission is to strengthen communities by promoting awareness of Puerto Rico’s contribution to the universal musical tapestry through quality educational presentations and authentic Bomba and Plena performances. Learn more about the work of Cultura Plenera at www.culturaplenera.org.
Sunday, September 28, 3 p.m. - CA 3071
Embrace and participate in the rhythms of Puerto Rico in this guided workshop by Cultura Plenera! This is an interactive experience with visitors taking up hand drums and learning traditional Puerto Rican rhythms. Drum, sing, dance, or listen with curiosity.
Cultura Plenera is a non-profit organization dedicated to community building in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia region through the traditional Puerto Rican musical styles. Its mission is to strengthen communities by promoting awareness of Puerto Rico’s contribution to the universal musical tapestry through quality educational presentations and authentic Bomba and Plena performances. Learn more about the work of Cultura Plenera at www.culturaplenera.org.
Afro-Puerto Rican Sounds with Cultura Plenera
Sunday, September 28, 4:30 p.m. – Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall
Experience two uniquely traditional Puerto Rican musical styles, Bomba and Plena, with the Cultura Plenera Ensemble.
Bomba is a Puerto Rican musical genre that dates back more than 300 years. With heavy African influences, Bomba expresses the sentiments of Puerto Ricans and their culture through barrel drums, maraca, cúa, singer and dancers. Plena is another Puerto Rican musical genre dating back more than 100 years, and it too narrates stories of the Puerto Rican experience through hand drums, güiro and singers. Both Bomba and Plena are central to life in Puerto Rican communities inside and outside of the island.
Sunday, September 28, 4:30 p.m. – Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall
Experience two uniquely traditional Puerto Rican musical styles, Bomba and Plena, with the Cultura Plenera Ensemble.
Bomba is a Puerto Rican musical genre that dates back more than 300 years. With heavy African influences, Bomba expresses the sentiments of Puerto Ricans and their culture through barrel drums, maraca, cúa, singer and dancers. Plena is another Puerto Rican musical genre dating back more than 100 years, and it too narrates stories of the Puerto Rican experience through hand drums, güiro and singers. Both Bomba and Plena are central to life in Puerto Rican communities inside and outside of the island.
Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros
Wednesday, October 8, 8 p.m. – Recital Hall
Join COFAC’s Latin American Arts Festival for a screening of “Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros.” This is a documentary film project by Daniel Weintraub.
Pauline Oliveros (1932-2016) composer, performer, humanitarian, was an important pioneer in American Music. Acclaimed internationally, for six decades she explored sound-forging new ground for herself and others. Through improvisation, electronic music, ritual, teaching and meditation she created a body of work with such a breadth of vision that it profoundly effects those who experience it and eludes many who try to write about it.
Wednesday, October 8, 8 p.m. – Recital Hall
Join COFAC’s Latin American Arts Festival for a screening of “Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros.” This is a documentary film project by Daniel Weintraub.
Pauline Oliveros (1932-2016) composer, performer, humanitarian, was an important pioneer in American Music. Acclaimed internationally, for six decades she explored sound-forging new ground for herself and others. Through improvisation, electronic music, ritual, teaching and meditation she created a body of work with such a breadth of vision that it profoundly effects those who experience it and eludes many who try to write about it.
Clarinet Studio Recital: Music by Latin American Composers
Wednesday, October 15, 8 p.m. – Recital Hall
Join us for an evening of clarinet music featuring members of the TU's Clarinet Studio and Clarinet Choir. The theme is music by Latin American composers, with music by Roberto Sierra, Jorge Montilla, Mauricio Murcia, Carlos Guastavino, and more.
Towson Clarinet Studio is led by Dr. Natalie Groom.
Wednesday, October 15, 8 p.m. – Recital Hall
Join us for an evening of clarinet music featuring members of the TU's Clarinet Studio and Clarinet Choir. The theme is music by Latin American composers, with music by Roberto Sierra, Jorge Montilla, Mauricio Murcia, Carlos Guastavino, and more.
Towson Clarinet Studio is led by Dr. Natalie Groom.
The Making of “Canciones de amor y soledad”
Saturday, October 18, 3 p.m. – CA 3069
Whistling Hens and guest composer Sonia Morales-Matos present an open rehearsal of “Canciones de amor y soledad.” This composition was commissioned by Whistling Hens and written by Morales-Matos in 2025 for the festival. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative process, as the ensemble and composer work together for the first time on the piece before its premiere on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall.
Saturday, October 18, 3 p.m. – CA 3069
Whistling Hens and guest composer Sonia Morales-Matos present an open rehearsal of “Canciones de amor y soledad.” This composition was commissioned by Whistling Hens and written by Morales-Matos in 2025 for the festival. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative process, as the ensemble and composer work together for the first time on the piece before its premiere on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall.
Whistling Hens | Big Crass Monster
Monday, October 20, 6 p.m. – Recital Hall
Whistling Hens® founded by soprano Jennifer Piazza-Pick and clarinetist Natalie Groom, present a recital of music by women composers. The program includes repertoire from the duo’s second album, Big Crass Monster, and works by Sonia Morales-Matos, Melissa Dunphy, Mojgan Misaghi, Jennifer Stevenson, and Victoria Bond. The feature work is a world premiere written by Morales-Matos, for the festival. The recital is approximately 70 minutes with no intermission.
Monday, October 20, 6 p.m. – Recital Hall
Whistling Hens® founded by soprano Jennifer Piazza-Pick and clarinetist Natalie Groom, present a recital of music by women composers. The program includes repertoire from the duo’s second album, Big Crass Monster, and works by Sonia Morales-Matos, Melissa Dunphy, Mojgan Misaghi, Jennifer Stevenson, and Victoria Bond. The feature work is a world premiere written by Morales-Matos, for the festival. The recital is approximately 70 minutes with no intermission.
Student Composer Works Workshop
Tuesday, October 21, 6 p.m. – Recital Hall
TU composition students have written pieces for Whistling Hens, a duo comprised of TU clarinet professor Natalie Groom and soprano Jennifer Piazza-Pick. Whistling Hens will perform the student works and provide feedback from the performer perspective. Guest composer Sonia Morales-Matos will provide feedback from the composer perspective.
Tuesday, October 21, 6 p.m. – Recital Hall
TU composition students have written pieces for Whistling Hens, a duo comprised of TU clarinet professor Natalie Groom and soprano Jennifer Piazza-Pick. Whistling Hens will perform the student works and provide feedback from the performer perspective. Guest composer Sonia Morales-Matos will provide feedback from the composer perspective.
Guest Artist Masterclass with Sonia Morales-Matos
Wednesday, October 22, 2 p.m. – Recital Hall
Sonia Morales-Matos, featured guest composer, joins the TU Composition Studio for a masterclass.
Sonia Ivette Morales-Matos is a Puerto Rican composer, performer, and educator who belongs to a family of distinguished musicians. Her compositions explore a wide variety of styles and genres such as chamber music, the concerto, choral music, Latin Jazz, pop, sacred and/or contemporary Christian, and Latin or Tropical music.
Wednesday, October 22, 2 p.m. – Recital Hall
Sonia Morales-Matos, featured guest composer, joins the TU Composition Studio for a masterclass.
Sonia Ivette Morales-Matos is a Puerto Rican composer, performer, and educator who belongs to a family of distinguished musicians. Her compositions explore a wide variety of styles and genres such as chamber music, the concerto, choral music, Latin Jazz, pop, sacred and/or contemporary Christian, and Latin or Tropical music.
Pre-Concert Talk with Sonia Morales-Matos
Thursday, October 23, 6 p.m. – CA 3069
Join us for a discussion with the composer to learn about the works programmed for the concert later that evening. Bring questions of your own to participate in the Q&A.
Sonia Morales-Matos was the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Herman Hudson Alumnus Award presented by the African American Arts Institute of Indiana University for her excellence as an educator, performer, and composer. She is the June 2019 recipient of recognitions from the City of Santa Ana, the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana, CA, for her participation in the “Latino Masters Concert” as a composer, performer, and educator.
Thursday, October 23, 6 p.m. – CA 3069
Join us for a discussion with the composer to learn about the works programmed for the concert later that evening. Bring questions of your own to participate in the Q&A.
Sonia Morales-Matos was the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Herman Hudson Alumnus Award presented by the African American Arts Institute of Indiana University for her excellence as an educator, performer, and composer. She is the June 2019 recipient of recognitions from the City of Santa Ana, the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana, CA, for her participation in the “Latino Masters Concert” as a composer, performer, and educator.
TU Music Ensembles Celebrate Latin America
Thursday, October 23, 7:30 p.m.- Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall
The Towson University Music Ensembles will celebrate Latin American music by showcasing the compositions of guest composer Sonia Morales-Matos for chorus, symphony orchestra, symphonic band, and percussion ensemble.
Thursday, October 23, 7:30 p.m.- Harold J. Kaplan Concert Hall
The Towson University Music Ensembles will celebrate Latin American music by showcasing the compositions of guest composer Sonia Morales-Matos for chorus, symphony orchestra, symphonic band, and percussion ensemble.
