09/08/99

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Music faculty member Paul De Castro is one of Cal State L.A. experts on Cuban music. During his summer break this year, De Castro traveled to Cuba to experience its music and culture firsthand. While in Cuba, he attended performances by Los Van Van, Son Candela, and the Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba. He also had the opportunity to take piano lessons with Toni Perez (Irakere) and Cesar "Pupi" Pedroso (Los Van Van), as well as percussion lessons with Toni Urdaneta (Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba).

If you need a quick directory of experts for other breaking news items, go directly to Guide to the Experts at Cal State L.A., www.calstatela.edu/univ/ppa/media/jourpage.htm. The on-line media guide includes 360 faculty experts from Cal State L.A. who are available and willing to speak to the media.

For assistance, contact the Cal State L.A. Office of Publications/Public Affairs at (323) 343-3050.

Paul De Castro
Assistant Professor of Music; B.A., M.A., Cal State L.A.
Currently finishing a Doctor of Musical Arts in jazz composition at the University of Texas at Austin, Paul De Castro is teaching jazz ensembles and music theory, as well as coaching small jazz groups and directing the Latin Jazz Ensemble at Cal State L.A. He honed his keyboard performance and compositional skills at Pasadena City College, and at Cal State L.A. where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts respectively. His private teachers have included Herb Mickman, Mike Garson and David Roitstein. De Castro composes mostly for jazz ensemble, jazz combo and studio orchestras. His compositions have been recorded by the Jeff Benedict Project, the Stacy Rowles Sextet, The University of Texas Jazz Orchestra and the Cal State L.A. Jazz Ensembles.

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