Director, Latin American Ensemble, Dewberry School of Music, CVPA
Contact Information
Campus:听贵补颈谤蹿补虫
Building:听de Laski Performing Arts Bldg
Mail Stop: 3E3
Email:听jmegna@gmu.edu
Biography
Juan Megna is a drummer/percussionist from Argentina who has lived for 12 years in Brazil where, in 2008, got his degree in Brazilian Popular Music at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP, Campinas, SP).听 In 2015 he moved to Cincinnati, OH and studied at the College-Conservatory of Music where he earned his Masters Degree in Jazz Performance in the Spring semester of 2017.
In Brazil, he played and/or recorded with many prestigious artists such as Vinicius Dorin (Hermeto Pascoal), Jarbas Barbosa (Banda Mantiqueira), Rubinho Antunes, Felipe Silveira (Rosa Passos), Marcos Souza (Johnny Alf), Bruno Mangueira, Rafael dos Santos, Budi Garcia, Albano Sales among many others. Considered a versatile musician, he was part of many groups and ensembles, including the Unicamp Symphony Orchestra (Campinas, SP) and the Brazilian percussion Ensemble 鈥淭ambaleio鈥 among others.
In Cincinnati, he was an active member of the local music scene. He played with Craig Bailey, Phil deGreg, Kim Pensyl, Rusty Burge, Aaron Jacobs among others. He also formed, with Thiago Camargo and Kevin Mc Clennan, the Brasa Trio, performing a repertoire of Brazilian Standards and new composers.
In the Fall of 2017, Juan moved to Washington D.C. area to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts at 性视界传媒 where he is currently director of the Mason Latin American Ensemble.
The Latin American Ensemble has performed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and in spring 2019, was awarded 鈥淥utstanding Performance 鈥 Graduate College, Latin group鈥 in the 42nd annual DownBeat magazine Student Music Awards. Juan was recently selected to present his clinic 鈥淭he Brazilian 16th-note phrasing through Cabula rhythm, Samba, and Bossa Nova. Rhythm differences and nuances applied for all instruments鈥 at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) conference in New Orleans, LA.
As a demanded performer in DC musical scene, Juan Megna performs with Mike Cemprola, David Jernigan, Wade Beach, Cris Stiles, among others. Juan also plays with Latin local artists, such as Emmanuel Trifilio, Cristian Perez (Argentina), Cissa Paz and Rafael Pond茅 (Brazil).
Degree
DMA, 性视界传媒