About the Artist/Ensemble
Kadencia is a band comprised of musicians that have toured with local and international bands in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Founded in Puerto Rico by singer-songwriter Maurice Sanabria-Ortiz and percussionist Roberto Candelario, Kadencia was reborn in Richmond, Virginia in late 2018, thanks to percussionists Maurice “Tito” Sanabria and Santos Ramirez. The band plays original Bomba, Plena, and Salsa music to promulgate Puerto Rican culture, educate audiences on the Island’s native musical expressions, and make audiences move in ways they never imagined. Their 2022 album “En Otro Barrio” received international airplay and was recognized as one of the Top 20 albums of 2022 by Puerto Rico’s National Foundation for Popular Culture. The band and its songs were featured on Season 2 of the AppleTV+ Series “Swagger.” The band is certified by the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture as a performer of traditional music. Kadencia is a member of the Virginia Commission for the Arts’ Touring Directory and a resident artist at the Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education. Kadencia and co-band leader Maurice “Tito” Sanabria were featured artists at the 2024 Richmond Folk Festival’s Virginia Folklife Area/Center for Cultural Vibrancy Stage. Tito leads Kadencia’s educational workshops. He is a 2024 graduate of the Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Program where he studied Mayaguez-style plena under master plena practitioner and recording artist Kily Vializ. Kadencia actively creates, records, and produces, and releases original Afro-Puerto Rican musical compositions, singles, and albums.
Kadencia has opened and headlined performances at festivals, concerts, and organizations such as the Library of Congress, Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Center, 2024 & 2020 Richmond Folk Festival, 2nd Street Festival, Winter Blues Jazz Fest, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Norfolk Latino Festival, Que Pasa Festival, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, George Washington University, Dogwood Dell Festival of the Arts, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, College of William & Mary, Richmond Performing Arts Alliance, Perkinson Center for the Arts, University of Richmond, Bridgewater College, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, and the Academy Center for the Arts.
Concert/Performance Description
Kadencia offers full band (11-12 musicians) and small ensemble (5-6 musicians) performances. The band plays original Bomba, Plena, and Salsa music with its full band and original and classic Afro-Puerto Rican music with its small ensemble. Performances are energetic, fun, and educational. They are suitable for audiences of all ages and can be held in a variety of venues. The band offers in-person and virtual performances that range between 1-2 hours.
Educational Programs
Kadencia offers in-person, recorded, and virtual performances and workshops on Afro-Puerto Rican music history, instrumentation, rhythms, and socio-cultural importance.
Fees
Tour Services and Description:
– Full-Band Concerts/Festivals/Events: $3,000-$5,000 (11-12 musicians)
– Small Ensemble Concerts/Festivals/Events: $1,250 – $2,750 (5-6 musicians)
– Educational Talks/Lectures/Workshops: $300+
Fees do not include travel and lodging expenses. Educational programs, workshops, or lectures can be scheduled separately or in conjunction with concerts/performances. Prices are subject to negotiation and depend on the type of event, the availability of sound equipment/services, the location of the event, and performance duration.