Last year’s music camp in San Pedro was such a hit they are doing it again and expanding to host the first Orange Walk Town Music Summer Camp. It will be August 25-30, 2014, at the Banquitas House of Culture. Daily classes are from Monday to Saturday.

Maestro Carlos Perrote will bring a truck load full of percussion instruments to the Banquitas House of Culture to provide for the participants of the First Orange Walk Music Summer Camp and will teach how to play steel pan, afrocuban percussion, acoustic guitar and keyboards.

In the afternoon children can join acoustic guitar and keyboard lessons in small groups.

8:30 – 10 AM – PERCUSSION. (all instruments are provided)
10:30 – 12 PM – ACOUSTIC GUITAR. (bring your own)
1- 2:30 PM – KEYBOARD. (bring your own)

Children starting at age 5 will learn how to play steel pan, bongos, batas, timbrel, tambourine, cajon, congas, drum set, Garifuna and Afro-Cuban percussion instruments, and much more. Minimum age: 5 years for percussion and keyboards, 7 years for guitar. Guitar and keyboards classes are limited to 10 participants.

Fee will be $120 BZD for percussion, and $180 BZD for the guitar and/or keyboard for the 6 days of instruction. Payment: 50% till May 5, rest till August 1. Deposit can be made to the account of Carlos Perrote at Atlantic Bank, and you can also email or call Elizabeth for the number: 226-3755 OR lizhobarth@yahoo.com . Deposit only cash, NO CHECKS! Deadline to Register: May 5, 2014. Please let her know of your payment afterward.

Developing their talent should be available for all, therefore they will be inviting some children of low income families to participate free of cost, and kindly invite sponsors to contact and help in this matter. Please invest in education, the future of our children.

Music Education improves math and reading skills, memory and listening skills, hands and eyes coordination. It develops language skills, helps learn to focus, boosts confidence, improves discipline by constantly practicing and scheduling lessons, helps a child learn to consider problems creatively and encourages them to discover multiple solutions to problems. All these skills will be invaluable as the child grows into an adult.

If you would like to hear Carlos before camp, Maestro Carlos Perrote will be preforming this Saturday, April 12 in Orange Walk to participate with his Holy Redeemer Marching Band at the Bandfest. They won Best Band Corps five years in a row, 2009-2013!

Second San Pedro Summer Music Camp July 28 – August 15, 2014 San Pedro High School with Teacher: Maestro Carlos Perrote

Afrocuban Percussion and SteelPan
Monday to Friday, July 28-August 15, 8:30 – 10 AM. Beginners: 10:30 AM – 12 Advanced Teenagers/Adults 1 PM – 2:30 PM. Advanced: 6-11 years. Fee – $180 BZD, pay now.

Acoustic Guitar (bring your instrument) 2:45-3:45 P.M. Limited to 10 students. Fee – $250 BZD.

Keyboards (bring your instrument) 3:50-4:50 P.M. Limited to 10 students. Fee – $250.- BZD.

Biography: Carlos Perotte began his Music studies in 1978 at one of Cuba’s most prestigious Vocational Schools of Art in the city of Guantanamo, Cuba.

Through a cultural exchange he gained the opportunity to experience his first international tour through Germany in 1981, when he was only 10 years old. With such a great accomplishment he was honored to play 1984 in the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, which gave him the privilege to tour in France and Italy in 1987.

From 1990 to 1994 Carlos started his Master’s Degree Program at the Supreme Institute Graduating as a Master in music in 1994. Carlos started to work with the Professional Conservatory and Music School of Art in Santiago de Cuba.

1998 – Carlos represented Cuba in Mexico at the Diego Rivera Conservatory and performed at numerous festivals and workshops.

1999 – Carlos came to Belize during a cultural exchange between Cuba and Belize, where he worked as an advisor to the Belize Arts Council music program.

2000 – Already as a resident of Belize, Carlos produced his first album “Twin Boy”, a variety of fusion compositions.

Carlos also worked as an itinerant music teacher for the National Institute of Creative Arts (NICH).

Carlos was the musical director of the late world famous Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective. In 2008, Carlos started a new project to combine different styles of Belizean music with Jazz. Creating a new genre named “CUGAZZ” (Cuban, Garifuna & Jazz), Carlos released his second album “OMOLEWA OSAIN” meaning “powerful mind” in 2009. This project includes 35 Belizean musicians who develop Belizean culture. The album is dedicated to Andy Palacio, with whom Carlos had the pleasure to share this project in.

In 2012 Carlos Perrote presented his third album “Cuenta Conmigo” with a live concert a TV Channel 5 featuring the Omolewa Osain Orchestra.

Maestro Carlos Perrote’s accomplishments in music earned him the respect of other Belizean artists. Carlos continues to represent Belize with his various musical groups locally and internationally. At the moment, Carlos is the music director of Grace Primary Music School. He is also directing the Holy Redeemer Marching Band in Belize City, winning at the Belize Band Fest the title of best Drum Corp for the fifth year in a row 2009. Carlos Perrote is considered one of Belize’s greatest assets in the music industry and the community as a whole.

Every year Carlos Perrote brings culture to young people during his music and percussion summer camps.

Omolewa Osain performed at the International Percussion Festival in Panama, August 11-18, 2013.

Due to the great success, Carlos Perrote and his group Omolewa Osain were invited to be part of the Panama Jazz festival 2014. In June 2014 they will participate at the Fiesta Del Fuego festival and others in Santiago de Cuba. A tour through Europe is in planning.