~Jonathan Muñóz, Registro New Haven

 

The Atacama Ensemble was formed with the idea of performing Latin American music with a focus on Andean folkloric music. Featuring some of the world's premiere folkloric musicians, the ensemble's repertoire includes rhythms like the Huaynos, Sayas and Diabladas of religious ceremonies from the north of Chile and Bolivia to Venezuelan Joropos and Festejos of Afro-Peruvian music.  Each of the members have mastered many Andean instruments such as maltas, zancas, toyos, rondadores, quenas, tarkas, charangos, Venezuelan cuatros and percussion including the bombo and Peruvian Cajon as well as more modern instruments like the classical flute and guitar.  All members of Atacama Ensemble have performed at the most prestigious theaters throughout South America, Europe and North America.

 

Recently the members of Atacama Ensemble participated in a workshop called “Andean Rhythms,” which was  produced by the Smithsonian Latino Center at the Baird Auditorium of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC with great success and spectacular reviews from the Washington Post.