About Pepe Santana

            PEPE SANTANA is an Ecuadorian-born musician. He has lived in the United States for 36 years spreading the musical traditions of the Andes mountains which has become his life long passion.

            Pepe plays over two dozen of native wind instruments (flutes, pan-pipes and whistles) and a variety of string instruments (charangos, mandolins, bandurria, tiple, guitars).

            His emphasis in ancient sounds and rhythms has defined him as a true spokesman of traditional Andean Music. He has participated in major folk festivals in the United States and Canada. Frequently lectures at Music Schools and Folk Societies in this country and abroad. In the New York Metropolitan Area, is very active in the school system with his lecture-demonstrations. These programs were found to be suitable for music teachers that use the Orf method of introducing music to young children. Pepe, together with Joan Fretz, a music teacher from Huntington, NY, presented the “Penatonic Panpipe Project“at the NY State Conference of Orf Music teachers in Rochester, NY (1996), and at the National Conference of Orf Music Teachers in Seatle, WA. (1997). The project has been and continues to be part of several school curricula in 11 school districts of New York State. For twelve years, he was an artist in residence at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution in New York and his workshops on wind instrument making have been successful events at the New York Museum of Natural History and Hostos Community College. He produced and directed several Andean Festivals at New York's Lincoln Center, Town Hall and Symphony Space. In New Jersey, he performs, regularly, at correctional facilities and rehabilitation centers. He started and continues to direct the Festival of the Andes at Waterloo Village. In 1995, participated in the Apprenticeship Program of the NJSCA as a master musician. Pepe also is the founder and director of Group INKHAY, (Quechua verb meaning "to tend the fire"), interpreters of traditional music from the Andes mountains of Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. The performances of INKHAY have thrilled audiences in mayor concert halls throughout the United States.

            Pepe has appeared in several Television shows like "Shining Time Station" (Ch. 13), "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego" (Ch. 13), "Visiones" (NBC TV). "New York Ahora" (Ch. 41) and others. Radio shows like "New York Kids" (WNYC-FM). "Around New York" (WNYC-FM).                                      

            As a lover of his Culture and Folklore, investigator, architect, technical illustrator and instrument maker, Pepe works out of his home-studio in Stanhope, New Jersey. For more information, call (973) 398-9573.  Fax (973 398-2388  E-mail juan.santana@worldnet.att.net