Welson Tremura (PhD, Florida State University) is a professor in the School of Music and the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida where he has developed and directs the guitar and vocal ensembles specializing in ethnomusicology (folk religion, technology, and interdisciplinary projects) and world music. He has also created media and used the Internet and technology to promote performance connecting distant people through music. Dr. Tremura teaches courses in ethnomusicology, Latin America and Brazilian topics, coordinates the world music ensembles and artist-in-residencies through the College of the Arts. Dr. Tremura publication “Brazilian Folia de Reis: With An Open Heart: A Spiritual Journey Through Song” is available in paperback throughout several publishing sites. Dr. Tremura is a graduate academic advisor and collaborates with several units through the University of Florida, including the School of Theater and Dance, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, and Academic Technology to create and develop Latin American arts linkages in local, state, national and international arenas for research and performance. Dr. Tremura maintains an active performance schedule and has been involved in performances and interdisciplinary projects in Brazil, United States, Europe, New Zealand, and China. Dr. Tremura coordinates the world music ensembles, is a member of the Alachua Guitar Quartet, is the Co-Director for Jacaré Brazil (Brazilian music ensemble) and is the Director for the Brazilian Music Institute at the University of Florida.

“The Art of Music is a journey into the sonic world of two brilliant and sensitive musicians: Randy Lee (trumpet, piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn, and shaker) and Welson Tremura (guitar, voice, and whistle). Born from a love of artistic collaboration, Tremura and Lee developed the repertoire for this recording project during a series of European concert tours over the past few years featuring the interrelated artistic strands of several musical traditions (e.g., Western art music; Brazilian choro, samba, and bossa nova; Argentinian nueva canción). At first glance, the pairing of a trumpet with guitar/voice would seem to present numerous challenges of musical balance, dynamics, timbre, phrasing, and the potential for exposing conflicting artistic sensibilities. Fortunately, Randy Lee and Welson Tremura, as well as performing artist/music producer/audio engineer José Valentino Ruiz, possess the artistic vision and technical ability to meet these challenges and produce a highly musical recording.”