Reception to honor the young Cuban recipients of scholarships to participate in the “Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp”

Jazz camp participants Jesús Andúz on trumpet, and Miguel Angel de Armas on piano, jam with visiting American John Buhager

Don Pancho Terry adds the percussive notes of the “chekeré” to the vocals of Danae Blanco, with Orlando Sánchez on piano

May 23, 2012 – USINT Chief of Mission John Caulfield hosted a reception at his residence to honor the young Cuban recipients of scholarships to participate in the “Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp” in July 2012 in New Orleans. 

Family members, friends and musical mentors gathered to recognize the accomplishments of Cuban musicians and scholarship recipients Jesus Anduz, Victor Campbell, Youlian Eire Guardia and Miguel Angel de Armas.  The convivial evening was capped by a lively jam session. 

Also present was “Horns to Havana” representative Susan Sillins.  “Horns to Havana” is an all volunteer organization dedicated to educational and cultural exchange between the U.S. and Cuba.  “Horns to Havana” was created after a group of musicians and jazz lovers, accompanying Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on a trip to Cuba in October 2010, visited music schools around Havana.  They were so impressed by the extraordinary ability and dedication of both students and teachers, that they formed “Horns to Havana” to provide assistance.  A number of interested individuals, donors and institutions rallied around this effort.  Now, with their partner, the “Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp”, they are bringing these four gifted Cuban music students to study at the summer program this July 2012.  The program provided four scholarships and “Horns to Havana” is organizing all the details and raising the funds necessary to make this a reality.