Jazz Diplomacy in Havana

CUNY City College of New York students and Instituto Superior De Las Artes Students share a laugh during a jam session at the ISA Campus in Havana.

FEBRUARY 3, 2025 HAVANA, CUBA – On January 20, a cohort of students and professors from CUNY City College of New York arrived in Havana for a week of immersion in Cuban music and culture. The program was a series of exchanges and workshops with Cuban students and professors from El Instituto Superior De Las Artes (ISA). El ISA is Cuba’s premiere institution for the arts and has graduated many of its famous modern musicians. The cohort was a mix of ten undergraduate and graduate students of CCNY’s famed jazz program led by Suzanne Pittson, chair of the music department, Ray Gallon, and Mike Holober.

The CCNY cohort was warmly greeted by ISA’s Dean of the Faculty of Music, Raul Leandro Rojas, and the international relations team. After quick exchange of introductions by leadership from both institutions, the program went straight to work. Rocío Espinosa, a 3rd year student majoring in plucked instruments, introduced the cohort to El Trés, the emblematic guitar of Cuban music. A professor and historian crushed the task of providing a survey on the history of Cuban popular music.

ISA professors and students led workshops in the history of Cuban popular music and Cuban rhythms. A highlight was the master class led by ISA professor and award winning Cuban percussionist, MsC Hansel ”Yorka” Hernández. Yorka introduced the cohort with the help of some of his students how the various percussion instruments syncopate to create popular Cuban rhythms. The demonstration then shifted into a participatory workshop as students would take turns fitting these pieces together themselves.

Every workshop and interaction in the full-time itinerary were programmed to be opportunities for students to play together. Jam sessions were held during every workshop, even off campus as ISA students invited CCNY students to jam with them in the evenings. “I was deeply shocked to see that, despite not having access to the best musical equipment, the students at ISA are incredibly talented and highly skilled musicians,” commented CCNY student bassist Joel Viera. “Their passion and dedication were truly inspiring. What moved me most was their eagerness to share their knowledge with us while also being genuinely excited to learn about American jazz from our perspective.”

CCNY students and professors also experienced Cuban music off campus from the community. The cohort learned about the history of the African diaspora in Cuba over the centuries and how the diaspora shaped Cuban music today. They met and exchanged with local musicians from the Yoruba community in Havana. “I learned so much about the history of Afro-Cuban music,” reflected Simon Mogul, a CCNY grad student and saxophonist in his final year. “I learned about the specific types of Afro Cuban music, from classical to popular Cuban music. I learned so much about the history of African influence on Cuban music and was really touched by the level of respect Cuban musicians have for the origin and traditions of their music, something I want to reciprocate as an educator and performer in the United States.”

With the goal of making the experience a mutually beneficial exchange, the CCNY professors, with the support of their students, led workshops in jazz vocalization, composition, and improvisation. Pittson spent two days in workshops with ISA students sharing a US perspective on jazz and improvisation. “Following my presentation on jazz vocals, the CCNY vocalists and I worked for two additional days with individual singers from ISA. I was very impressed with the talent and skill level of each of the singers” reflects Pittson. “But I was especially moved by the way the singers, and all Cuban musicians I heard, express the music straight from the heart, with complete authenticity. I deeply want that for my own music and look forward to continued exchange with our new friends.”

Suzanne Pittson, Chair of the Music Department at the City College of New York with vocalists from CCNY and ISA.

Professor Mike Holober leads the composition workshop for ISA and CCNY students.

The CCNY cohort poses with the Yoruba group after the demonstration on historic Afro-Cuban rhythms.

ISA and CCNY students jam together during the improvisation workshop.

Hesitant to leave despite the economic difficulties being experienced by the country and its people, the cohort received a glimpse of Cuban life and culture that will hopefully inspire them to continue collaborating and incorporating the lessons learned in Cuba and to one day return. “I grew as a person in ways I still can’t fully express. But it was a powerful reminder of how much we take for granted, how disconnected we can be from our roots, and how easy it is to stay in our own bubble, forgetting to look around,” reflected CCNY graduate student and vocalist Jéssica Lucas Silva. “It was also a reminder to dance, to embrace life, and to face it all with a smile.”

The impression from the program was not one sided. “I consider that the first meeting was formidable, both Universities demonstrated the enormous potential they have of students and teachers,” responded Raul Leandro Rojas, Dean of the Faculty of Music for ISA. “The history of music between the two countries is once again reaffirmed, we are two cultures with the individual technical and sound richness that characterize us, but at the same time we have the same common interests that are to perfect and add new knowledge that contributes to knowledge and collective improvement.”

The exchange is the result of meetings between ISA and CCNY’s provost, Dr. Anthony Liss. He participated in Congreso Universidad in February 2024 and met with leaders at several Cuban universities including ISA. Dr. Liss found that a collaboration with ISA would have the strongest first impact for his campus. Congreso Universidad is hosted by the Cuba Ministry of Higher Education in Havana and takes place every two years. The next one takes place February 2026.

Professors from both ISA and CCNY hope to continue to collaborate and build on the relationship that has formed through this latest exchange. It’s a testament to the power of jazz diplomacy. As CCNY graduate student and percussionist Greg Joseph described his experience, “This was one of the best trips of my life; I’m a different person after going to Cuba, and I grew as a musician more in one week than I usually do in 6 months.”

CCNY Student Simon Mogul jams with Cuban musicians in Old Havana.

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Civitas GES News