Marassa Duo (James Armstrong and Nicholas Papador) were invited performers at the 13th International Festival of Percussion in San Juan, Puerto Rico (José Alicea, artistic director). The three day event took place at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico.

On Thursday, August 17th, the duo presented an afternoon clinic for students, fellow performers and the general public. The clinic focused on the group’s blending of Afro-Caribbean and Western musical traditions with their compositions Marassa I and Songroads.

The group also discussed concepts of artistic entrepreneurship through original musical ventures.

That evening, the group performed a concert sharing the bill with Dafnis Prieto, Boricua Jazz and the Group Folclórico Nacional Hermanos Cepeda.

Marassa Duo will be making October 2006 appearances in Michigan and southwest Ontario. The group would like to express its appreciation to Vic Firth Inc. for their support for this event.