Orígenes: voice and percussion through the ages, adapted from our virtual program “Orígenes: Exploring the Spanish and Latin-American Renaissance", is a bilingual program curated by Mexican-born mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte and Spanish-born percussionist Jesús Pacheco. The program explores the development of voice and percussion instruments with a focus on Spanish and Latin American cultures. A group of singers and percussionists will perform impassioned music from the Renaissance to the present day, showcasing how voice and percussion developed through the ages. Featured instruments will include gongs, bells, vibraphone, and drums. Students will learn how these instruments were used for communication, accompanying people through the everyday human experience: from festive celebrations to poignant moments of sorrow and drama. From the earliest forms of musical expression to contemporary soundscapes, Orígenes immerses students in a journey through time, revealing the diverse colors and textures of Spanish and Latin American musical heritage.

Recipient of a 2025 Early Music America Engagement Award, and underwritten in part by Kathleen Moore and Steve Homer.