The Salsa Youth Orchestra was started in May of 2005 by Tony Ruiz (band leader of Orquesta Tropikiimba) and three Richmond VA music students. Initially it was just percussion, bass and piano. The trio was set up to train the three young musicians to play Salsa or Afro-Caribbean music in general, so that they could play with Tropikiimba in the event that Tropikiimba would ever need a substitute musician for a show. In the process of training these three students more kids were recruited for the band finally evolving into what is now the Salsa Youth Orchestra.
     Salsa Youth Orchestra's age group ranges from eleven to seventeen years of age. Their instrumentation is as follows: Timbales, Congas, Bass, Piano, Trombones, Trumpets, Saxophones, Cello's, Violin and of course Singing. All of the kids involved have learned about and continue to learn about the basic fundamentals of Afro-Cuban music and other Afro-Caribbean musical styles.

The Salsa Youth Orchestra & Tropikiimba
Will Perform Friday May 4th
For First Fridays @ The Richmond Public Library
6:00 - 9:00, May 4th, 2012

6:00-7:00   Dance Lesson with Edwin Roa
                   from Zabor Dance
7:00           Introduction to Cuban Music
                  - A discussion with Dr. Mike Davison
7:10           Performance by Salsa Youth Orchestra
8:00           Featuring Orquesta Tropikiimba

The Richmond Public Library
101 East Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219

Click here for more information.

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Baila Usted
(Tropikiimba with The Salsa Youth Orchestra)

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E-mail

For donations to the Salsa Youth Orchestra, please make check, cashiers check or money orders payable to Salsa Youth Orchestra and send to:?

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