CUNY DSI Orchestra at The Shed

The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute (CUNY DSI) celebrates the participation of AfroDominican-American artist Bryan Fernandez to the Open Call 2023 Group Exhibition at the Shed! On the last day of the show, the CUNY DSI Orchestra presents a concert and dance party of jazz-tinged merengue típico inspired in New York-based Dominican bands such as accordionist Angel Viloria’s and merengues written by the great Dominican composer Rafael Petitón.

Led by CUNY DSI's Distinguished Research Professor Dr. Paul Austerlitz, the band performs original interpretations of the music featured on the Institute’s website “A History of Dominican Music in the United States". The ensemble features Austerlitz on the saxophone, joined by John Benitez (bass), Alex Diaz (conga), Javier Roman (güira), and CUNY DSI Doctoral Research Fellow Pablo Gomez (piano).

Before the performance, CUNY DSI researchers and staff Jhensen Ortiz and Waldemar Morety briefly present two of the Institute's important research projects: the "History of Dominican Music in the United States" and the creation of a proposed Dominican historic district in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.

Join us to learn about CUNY DSI research projects to preserve and promote the Dominican cultural heritage in New York City and the US and to dance to the sounds of merengue típico!