Speaker Series, Fine and Performing Arts hosting jazz great Nestor Torres

Seminole State College of Florida's Speaker Series and Center for Fine and Performing Arts are hosting two events with Latin Grammy award winner and multi-Grammy nominee flautist Nestor Torres.

Jazz Night featuring Nestor Torres presented by the Seminole State College
Center for Fine and Performing Arts

Calling all Jazz enthusiasts. Seminole State College presents their Jazz Ambassadors Big Band, Seminole Sound Choral Group, and Jazz Combo in concert for a night of Jazz.  Led by band director, James Smisek and choral director, Dianna Campbell, the ensembles will be performing both classic and contemporary compositions for your listening pleasure.  Special guest and acclaimed flutist Nestor Torres will perform with the students during this concert.

• When: Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
• Where: The Ritz at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center
  201 Magnolia Ave., Sanford, FL 32771
• Admission: Free.  Visit the Ritz Theater website to reserve your seats. 

An Evening with Jazz Flautist Nestor Torres presented by the Seminole State College Speaker Series

• When: Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.
• Where: Sanford/Lake Mary Campus building C or watch live via  streaming video 
• Admission: Free
• Topic: Flutist or flautist? Artist or content provider? Finding my way to the middle way: An autobiographical account through story-telling , spoken word and music, of how a Puerto Rican Artist found his way to self-acceptance and sense of purpose

Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nestor Torres moved to New York City, where he pursued classical flute studies at Mannes School of Music, jazz at Berklee College of Music, and classical and jazz at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. During that time, he also learned to improvise in the "Charanga" Cuban Dance Music genre, which helped shape and develop Torres' unique melodic and danceable style.

This rhythmic and mellifluous sound evolution remains apart in a class by itself with four Latin Grammy nominations, one Grammy nomination and one Latin Grammy award. In addition to 18 solo recordings, Torres’ unique collaborations with diverse artists such as Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Dave Mathews, Paquito d’Rivera, Herbie Hancock, Arturo Sandoval and Tito Puente; as well as performances with the Cleveland, Singapore, and New World Symphony Orchestras, among many others, are testament to his remarkable versatility and artistry. 

2017 brought two diverse album releases for Torres; the Latin Grammy Nominated "Jazz Flute Traditions," a spectacular tribute to his jazz flute mentors and influences, and "del Caribe, soy!" a collection of classical compositions by Latin American composers, including the great Puerto Rican icon Rafael Hernandez, alongside contemporary works written for Torres by Tania Leon and Miguel del Aguila. This relentless exploration of musical possibilities without boundaries led to a recent concerto commission by Mariano Morales for a world premiere with Torres and The Lynn Philharmonic. 

In May 2021 Torres recorded his much-awaited second classical album. The album was produced under the direction of the highly recognized and multi-Grammy winning Russian/Polish (Uruguayan born) classical composer and conductor Jose Serebrier. 

In January 2022 Torres released his most recent smooth jazz single, “Thank You Willie,” with an album to follow in early fall of 2022. 

In addition to his achievements in the studio and on the stage, Torres is also the recipient of many awards, including two honorary doctorate degrees from Barry University and Carlos Albizu University for his commitment to youth, education and cultural exchanges.

The views expressed by speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Seminole State College of Florida, its Board of Trustees, employees, students, alumni or partners.

Seminole State's Speaker Series is co-sponsored by Addition Financial. For more information, please call 407.708.2776. You can also view a list of previous speakers at Seminole State.