2025 Day of Percussion

Born in Cali, Colombia in 1980, Héctor Javier Tascon H. has focused his work on the study of percussion and on the traditional music of the South Pacific region of Colombia. The marimbas, currulao rhythm, traditional Colombian legends, and Afro-Colombian dances are at the center of his interests as an artist and researcher. Héctor graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s from the Conservatorio Antonio María Valencia, and then he completed a masters in musicology from the Universidad de la Rioja. He has won first place in several competitions including best marimba de chonta player at the 2023 International Festival Petronio Álvarez, best instrumental soloist in the Mono Núñez Festival of Andean music, best instrumental soloist in the National Festival of the Colombian Pasillo, and best soloist in the Filarmónica del Valle competition. As an educator, he has been recognized by the Red iberoamericana of pedagogy for his work with the traditional musicians of the south pacific of Colombia, the Instituto Departamental de Bellas Artes, the Universidad del Cauca, and for his research works. In 2022, he was recognized as professor of the year by the organization Sidesco. Héctor also serves as junior researcher with Colciencias. Héctor has conducted traditional south pacific Colombian music field research in Buenaventura, El charco, Tumaco, Guapi, and López de Micay. He has written several method books including: “A Marimbear: oío method to play the marimba de chonta” (2008), “Qué te pasa’ vo” (2009), and “Colombia music for symphonic marimba” (2014). He has published several research articles, created an app called “Marimbiar,” and a video game called “Oí Marimbí.” He is also a composer, writing several pieces for percussion, composing the music for the show “Currulao Cuántico” and the animated short “El pájaro Cubo,” which won first prize as best animated short in Bogotá in 2020. Héctor is co-founder of PerCombia, a research collective dedicated to creating musical literature based on Colombian regional music. Currently, Héctor is a professor of percussion at the Universidad del Cauca and at the Antonio María Valencia Conservatory, where he also serves as chair of percussion.  

It is the dawning of a new day for the first professional folkloric music ensemble of its kind, permanently based within the United States and calling Kansas City home since 1991. The June 1, 2004, rising of Marimba Sol de Chiapas is the evolution of the group started by Dr. Laurence Kaptain in 1988 as Marimba Yajalón. Committed to the authentic performance practice and spirit of the marimba heard throughout Mesoamerica, Marimba Sol de Chiapas (which translates as The Chiapan Sun Marimba Group) maintains an active schedule of performances, recordings, and multi-cultural workshops. More than thirty years of ensemble highlights range from a feature on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition and a cameo appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America, to performing at the art world’s premier event of the Americas-Art Basel Miami. From performances at three International Festivals of the Marimba, to several Compact Disc recordings-including Sol’s upcoming release “Sunrise”. So authentic is their interpretation and approach that the ensemble has toured Mexico on numerous occasions as guests of the Mexican Government. Dedicated to community as well as art, Marimba Sol de Chiapas is a teaching performance ensemble for Kansas City Young Audiences with well over thirty years combined in-school presentation experience. The group’s emphasis on enriching as well as entertaining their audiences in a variety of local, national, and international venues and formats brings the music of the Mexican marimba to thousands of listeners and furthers the reputation of Marimba Sol de Chiapas as North America’s premiere professional Mexican marimba ensemble.

Born in Bogotá, Wilson Tovar holds a master’s degree in composition with new technologies from the University of La Rioja (Spain). He has served as principal timpanist and section leader with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Bolívar and is currently a Professor of Percussion at the Conservatorio Adolfo Mejía, where he leads research projects and curricular reforms in the percussion area.  

As a member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and regional director of COLPAS for the Bolívar zone, he has collaborated with the Orquesta Filarmonía de Madrid (Spain) and has recently participated in the Trombón Costeño Vol. 2 project as part of a research initiative from the Universidad del Atlántico, contributing a composition based on the rhythms of Colombia’s Caribbean region.  

Throughout his career, he has been part of several ensembles in genres such as symphonic music, contemporary music, jazz, rock, and Colombian folk music. He has performed with The Tripas Corazón, The Independents Jazz Quintet, Connell Ensamble, Radiantes, Ensamble PEAUX, Ensamble de Percusión Conv3ergence, and is a co-founder of PerCombia, a research collective dedicated to creating musical literature based on Colombian regional music, working with Héctor Tascón (Universidad de Bellas Artes del Valle) and Fernando Valencia (University of Arkansas).  

In 2023, he served as the artistic director for the Cartagena International Percussion Festival. He has been invited as adjudicator for the VIII Australian Marimba Competition and as a guest artist at the Encuentro Internacional de Percusión Del Atlántico and the Uniendo Culturas International Percussion Festival in Uruguay.  

Currently, he is a member of the CIMCAM research group at the Conservatorio Adolfo Mejía and collaborates with the RAÍZ group, focusing on performance, creation, and musical management in the context of Colombian music research.