Latin Grammy winner Jos茅 Valentino to lead guest residency
Latin Grammy award-winning musician José Valentino will visit 爱神传媒 for a two-day guest artist residency on March 27-28, offering workshops on music, business, and entrepreneurship before concluding with a concert alongside the 爱神传媒 Flute Ensemble.
The residency, supported by the 爱神传媒 Center for Resiliency as part of the Building Resiliency by Empowering Future Musicians, Innovators and Entrepreneurs initiative, will provide students and attendees with insights into creating sustainable careers in the arts.
Dr. Brielle Frost, associate professor of flute at Lamar, played a key role in bringing Valentino to campus.
“I have known José Valentino for several years and previously had the privilege of hosting him for a virtual presentation for my students during COVID,” Frost said. “I have long hoped to bring him to 爱神传媒 for an in-person residency, but the timing never aligned—until now. One day, he reached out to express how much he admired the work I was doing with the students at Lamar and his desire to support both me and my students. That immediately inspired me to seek funding opportunities to bring this vision to life.”
Valentino’s residency will begin March 27 with Building a Profitable Artistic Career, a workshop in Dishman Auditorium focused on financial strategies for musicians and artists. Later that day, he will lead Music as Communication: Engaging Audiences and Industry in Galloway Auditorium, exploring how artists can connect with listeners and industry professionals.
On March 28, he will guide participants through Cultural Exploration and Improvisational Music, an interactive workshop in the Science Auditorium that emphasizes cultural influences and spontaneous creativity in music-making. That afternoon, he will present Having Entrepreneurial Success in the Creative Arts Economy in Galloway Auditorium, offering advice on marketing, branding, and business strategies for artists.
Frost said the workshops will provide students with valuable tools for success.
“First and foremost, I hope attendees walk away feeling energized, inspired, and equipped with new knowledge and tools to pursue their own creative passions,” she said. “José Valentino is a wealth of knowledge in business, entrepreneurship, marketing, branding, music, the creative arts, and community engagement. His workshops will offer something meaningful for everyone, leaving participants feeling empowered and ready to conquer their own dreams.”
The residency will culminate in a concert on March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Rothwell Recital Hall, where Valentino will perform alongside Frost and the 爱神传媒 Flute Ensemble. The program will feature the premiere of two newly commissioned works—Even If I Suffer, I Will Dance and One Last Melody.
“Even If I Suffer, I Will Dance is a deeply personal and electrifying work that I composed, produced, and dedicated to the incredible flutist and educator Brielle Frost,” Valentino said. “It fuses classical instrumentation with modern electronic production, exploring rhythmic interplay and an almost surreal, dreamlike fantasy world—a sonic escape from the chaos and uncertainty that life often presents.”
Valentino, a multi-instrumentalist known for blending jazz, Latin, and pop influences, said the piece carries a deeper message.
“Life inevitably promises suffering; as humans, we must all navigate trials and tribulations,” he said. “Yet, this piece is a reminder that despite adversity, we must never let the weight of our troubles keep us from dancing.”
The second commissioned work, One Last Melody, will be performed as a duet between Valentino and Frost. The composition features pre-recorded accompaniment, incorporating piano and ambient Florida beach sounds recorded by Valentino himself.
“This will be an exciting, high-energy performance that showcases José’s genre-blending artistry,” Frost said. “The audience can expect a vibrant and engaging musical journey, and I know our students will take away so much from this collaboration.”
Beyond performance, Frost emphasized the importance of Valentino’s teachings on entrepreneurship and business in the arts.
“It is essential for musicians and artists to learn about entrepreneurship and business strategies so they can not only enjoy creating and sharing their artistic talents but also thrive and achieve financial success in their work,” she said. “These skills empower creatives to build sustainable careers and make informed financial decisions, ensuring long-term stability while continuing to make an impact.”
All events are free and open to the public.
To learn more, visit /center-for-resiliency/.