https://www.jeanchristopheleroy.com/new-page daily 0.75 2021-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1610902481935-8TJE7Q6JYCG33T9WZ3EM/MB2_0744.jpg About - About Jean Jean-Christophe is a recently naturalized American citizen, born in Canada of French-Vietnamese descent who, since his arrival 10 years ago, has become one of Chicago’s most recognized Afro-Cuban musicians. A versatile percussionist and drummer, Jean-Christophe’s approach to performing embraces his ability to incorporate multicultural rhythms into non-traditional settings. Since beginning his professional career as a freelance performer and educator, Jean-Christophe has worked in around the globe including but not limited to numerous locations in Canada, the U.S., Cuba, Poland, Israel, Morocco and Ecuador. He has been featured in a wide variety of locales including percussion conventions, arts festivals, theatre productions, studio recordings, and regularly drums for Afro-Cuban (Santeria/Palo) religious ceremonies. Cuban music is not his only strength. He is well versed in West African, Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean styles of music. He relishes in adapting these diverse styles to compliment western musical settings as well as transferring these rhythms to drum set.  He has performed with artists of varied musical backgrounds including African, Cuban, jazz, funk and R&B. In recent years, he has had the honor of performing with many of his mentors such as Howard Levy, Lalo Schifrin, Israel “Toto” Beriel (Los Munuquitos de Matanzas), Michael Spiro, Skip Burney, Chuchito Valdez, Emilio Valdez and Miami Sound Machine. Jean-Christophe also has extensive experience performing, directing and recording with dance and theater productions. He has provided live and recorded accompaniment for classes of multiple dance/movement genres including African, Cuban, Brazilian, modern, tap, jazz, yoga, capoeira and funk. Firmly committed to arts-education, he has provided musical instruction for universities, community centers, public schools and conservatories. He enjoys working with both aspiring musicians of all ages as well as professionals. Subsequently, his teaching venues range from his son’s elementary school to the University of Chicago.  Jean has also been proud to be on faculty with the Ravinia Jazz Mentor Program since 2015. Since his philosophy is that one should never stop learning, Jean-Christophe persistently strives to improve by seeking out and studying with masters of their respective idioms as often as possible. Begining fall 2017, Jean will be playing percussion for the Gloria Estefan musical "On Your Feet" national tour! https://www.jeanchristopheleroy.com/resume daily 0.75 2024-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1612128980088-2UQJ4ZDGBMX8QJMKX094/MB2_9637.jpg Resume - EDUCATION Master of Music May 2023 Northern Illinois University (Dekalb, IL) World Music Research, Performance, and Pedagogy Bachelor of Arts August 2021 Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL) Afro-Cuban Studies 1 sem. Percussion Performance Fall 2002 Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL) Percussion Performance Degree Work 1991 - 1994 University of Calgary (Calgary, AB, Canada) Awards and Scholarships Northern Illinois University: 2023 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year Fall 2021, Spring 2022 Graduate Assistantship 2023 Summa Cum Laude Fall 2021, Spring 2022 Artistic Talent Tuition Waiver Northeastern Illinois University: 2021 Summa Cum Laude Fall 2019, Spring 2020 Merit Scholarship Other Institutions: 2002 President’s List (Jacksonville State University) 1996, 1994 Tuition scholarship for AfroCubanismo Festival (Banff Centre for the Arts) Field Work/Professional Development 2006, ‘07, ‘10, ‘13, ‘14, ‘16, ‘23 Independent travel (Habana and Matanzas Cuba) Self-funded, solo trips in pursuit of complete cultural, religious, linguistic, and musical immersion Summer 1996, 1999 Drummers Collective and Independent Travel (NY, NY) Private study with Bobby Sanbria, Eddie Bobé, Madou Dembele, John Amira N’Goma N’Dao, and West African and Afro-Cuban master musicians Summer 1994, 1996 AfroCubanismo workshop (Banff, AB, Canada) Summer workshop at the Banff School of the Arts Intensive study with Enrique Pla, Miguel “Anga” Diaz, José Luis “Changuito” Quintana, and other Afro-Cuban master musicians https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1612129133727-RHGSKJJV5G0C34FNIFE3/MB2_9765.jpg Resume - Higher Education Experience Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL Instructor Spring 2024 Designed and implemented Afro-Latin Music and the Diasporic Movement course/ensemble Graduate assistant Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 Designed and implemented Introduction to World Music and Culture course Director of the West African/Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble Co-Instructor for Afro-Cuban Drumming Class North Central College, Naperville, IL Spring 2024 Instructor Design and Implementation of Doing Ethnomusicology course Concordia University Chicago, Chicago, IL Spring 2024 Instructor Design and Implementation of Intro to World Music and Culture course DePaul University, Chicago. IL 2021, 2023 Guest master classes for the School of Music Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. IL Writing tutor, Center for Academic Writing/Learning Success Center Spring 2020 University of Chicago, Chicago. IL Director of the Afro-Cuban Folkloric Ensemble 2019-2023 Aide and coordinator for guest artist/Composer workshop 2019, 2021 Regular guest master classes for the Department of Music 2014 - 2022 University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago. IL 2015 Guest master class and percussion coaching Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL Guest master classes for the entire Jazz program Spring 2000 Teaching Assistant, duties include Fall 2002 Teaching Afro-Cuban Percussion Course for Percussion Majors Master Classes, Workshops, and performances with university ensembles University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Co-instructor, Fundamentals of Rhythm, Faculty of Kinesiology 1998 Co-instructor, Afro-World Beat Dance and Rhythm, Faculty of Kinesiology 1998 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1610908235216-DMZVYXM2D4ZUIMB6WW8U/MB2_9665.jpg Resume - Recordings and Video Angel de Cuba, Heritage, 2013 Groupo Cha Cha, This is the Life, 2013 Saffron Caravan, Tour Documentary (with Howard Levy), 2011 (not yet released) Saffron Caravan, Unfolding, 2010 Live Video for The African Channel with Loide Jorge (Mozambique vocalist), 2010 Ryan Cohan, One Sky, 2007 James Sanders and Conjunto, Chicago Sessions, 2005 Latin Inspiration, Latin Inspiration, 2005 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1610906123338-HQPLPZUPV25AYC3QKSFF/MB2_1020.jpg Resume - Selected Performances Percussionist for the national tour of "On Your Feet" Gloria Estefan Bio-Musical (2017-1019) Broadway in Chicago -Oriental Theater world premier of "On your Feet" Gloria with Miami Sound Machine 2015 Vancouver and Montreal Jazz festival 2009 with the “Occidental Brothers” (Afro-pop) Paramount Theatre Aurora “In the Heights” September 2013 Latin Inferno at Millennium Park with James Sanders and Conjunto, August 2010 Day of Percussion for PASIC Chicago 2011, with Michael Spiro Chicago Latin Jazz Festival (2007-present) with CALJE, Joe Rendon and Friends, Chuchito Valdez, Chevere, James Sanders and Conjunto, Groupo CHA CHA, and Latin Inspiration Harris Theater, Lalo Schifrin with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, November 2007 Hyde Park Jazz Festival (2007-present) with, Chevere, James Sanders and Conjunto, Angel de Cuba Chicago Jazz Festival (2007-present) with, Latin Inspiration, James Sanders and Conjunto, Richie Pillot and Habana, Joe Rendon and Friends Quito Percussion Festival, Ecuador, special guest appearance, April 2007 World Music Events with Howard Levy and Saffron Caravan (2007-2011) Rialto Theater, Casablanca, Morocco US ambassador’s residence, Rabat, Morocco HAMSA-fest, Chicago, IL The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC US ambassador’s residence, Tel Aviv, Israel Cultural concerts/workshops in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer-Sheva Israel Various Canadian National Festivals with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks (a professional dance company), David Thiaw (African Folk Ensemble), Strugglah (Geggae group), Karamoko Kouyate (West African Pop), 1992-1998 https://www.jeanchristopheleroy.com/music daily 0.75 2021-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1611097666462-Q3U7V0O0HJGMPBMVNAYX/Screen+Shot+2021-01-19+at+5.06.57+PM.png Music https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1611096105975-BXGXC9QPXSPDAH6G242K/Screen+Shot+2021-01-19+at+4.41.35+PM.png Music https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/600379b7dfad4a36491c67ef/1610922542368-P0M5W5E5ZNBEL8QXU9XQ/chachacha.jpg Music https://www.jeanchristopheleroy.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-02-04 https://www.jeanchristopheleroy.com/home daily 1.0 2021-01-31