Dr. Roberto Palomeque

Dr. Roberto Palomeque has been the assistant professor of percussion at Concordia College since 2023, serving as director of percussion studies, percussion ensemble, and marimba choir. He has been an active musician and performer. His repertoire embraces the traditions of Mexican music and unites his roots with academic training in a powerful combination of elements, including popular music and jazz, with contemporary and concert repertoires.

 

During his career, Palomeque has received several awards, including the first prize in Belgium’s Universal Marimba Duo Competition in 2013, the first prize at the first Keiko Abe Latin-America Marimba Solo Competition with Ms. Keiko Abe as jury president, and the absolute winner of the sixth National Marimba Solo Contest in 2010 in Mexico. In addition, he was awarded the Young Talent Artistic Award by the Mexican government in 2013 and the prestigious scholarship for the arts in Mexico given by FONCA (the National Endowment for Culture and Arts) with the project The Marimba Development into the 21st Century, which toured universities and schools of music throughout Mexico in 2018.

 

Palomeque has collaborated with world-class musicians such as Keiko Abe (Japan), Emmanuel Sejourné (France), Dave Samuels (USA), Ney Rosauro (Brazil), Nanae Nimura (Japan), Ludwig Albert (Belgium), David Friedman, (USA), Zeferino Nandayapa (Mexico), Takayoshi Yoshioka (Japan), John Wooton (USA), Aly Keita (Senegal), Eriko Daimo (Japan), Victor Mendoza (USA-Mexico), and many more, performing concerts, recitals, and workshops as a soloist or member of prestigious chamber groups throughout Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, the United States, and Mexico.

 

Palomeque holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from UNICACH University, a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Antwerp (Belgium), and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance at the University of Southern Mississippi. He is sponsored by Zildjian and Innovative Percussion.