LCA Music Director: Pavel Polanco

Biography Pavel Polanco-Safadit is originally from the Dominican Republic, and he holds an undergraduate degree in composition from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree in composition and music theory from Eastern Kentucky University, and is currently a dissertator completing a DMA (doctorate of musical arts) degree in composition from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studies under Steve Dembski.

His compositions have been performed in many locations throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. He has composed pieces in various styles, such as modern music, popular Latin music, and jazz. As a pianist, Pavel performs classical, orchestral, modern, salsa, merengue, bachata, and Latin Jazz music. He has performed with several artists, including Roscoe Mitchell, Romulo Castro, Guillermo Anderson, Richard Davis, Hector Tricoche, La Palabra, Ricky Gonzalez and Sergio George. Pavel has performed in a variety of venues, such as the annual Summerfest, the International Double Reed Society Convention, and the Latin Festival in Milwaukee. He also serves as musical director for the Latino Cultural Alliance (LCU) based in Milwaukee, WI, and accompanies visiting musicians in their performances of Latin-American music.

He appears as a soloist, vocal coach, director of Latin bands, guest artist, and as a lecturer in universities around the country. Pavel has served as a guest lecturer for the music and Latin-American Studies departments at the University of Arkansas and the University of Wisconsin.

Pavel also is a vocalist and has composed, performed and recorded several of his own pieces, some of which are now available on CD and DVD. Pavel has taught students of all ages. He instructed a music theory course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-taught classes at Eastern Kentucky University in choral and music theory studies.