Local music Non-profit since 2012
World-Class Music Ensemble
Our world-class Cuban band, Sofrito y Su Melao, plays traditional music for dancing, performances, interactive workshops, and virtually any occasion. We play salsa, son, guajira, chachachá, bachata, danzón, cumbia, merengue, and bolero!
Our band members have studied and performed all over the Americas and the Caribbean and our executive director has been nominated for both Latin & American Grammys.
Youth Ensemble
In our Youth Ensemble, young musicians from ages 7-18 meet weekly to learn how to make music. We provide resources for them to thrive such as instruments, scholastic supplies, and one-on-one instruction from expert teachers.
Our students gain instrumental, performance, social-emotional, and critical thinking skills as well as an authentic musical and cultural perspective. Students engage in performances and play alongside the world-class teaching artists of Sofrito y Su Melao.
Serving Central Texas Communities since 2012
Enrichment Programs
Since 2012, our teaching artists have provided an array of enrichment opportunities to thousands of multi-generational participants through afterschool programs, community workshops, masterclasses, and storytelling events. We teach music from all around the world while focusing on Afro-Caribbean styles.
Our partners have included Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Creative Action, Austin Soundwaves and the Hispanic Alliance, Art Spark Texas, Kids in a New Groove, Greater Austin YMCA, AGE of Central Texas, Safe Alliance, Zach Scott Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center for the blind via the Texas Workforce Commission, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s Lending Library, and more.
On-Demand Content
We have been producing a variety of multimedia content in the form of music videos, songs for audiophiles, and educational videos.
Our videos showcase our band, youth ensemble, and enrichment programs. You can find our music to stream on almost any platform. Listen to Sofrito on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
Educational videos will be released in late 2024 with themes such as Drum Set with Daniel Dufour, Cuban and Brazilian music, Rudimental Snare Drumming, Electronic and Popular Musical Styles, and a Latin Percussion Course with Luis Conte and Ian Fry.
We will continue to provide audio services such as Spanish translation, voiceover, and audio description.