Pavel Polanco-Safadit

Pavel Polanco-Safadit is originally from the Dominican Republic, and he holds an undergraduate degree in composition from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree in composition and music theory from Eastern Kentucky University, and is currently a dissertator completing a DMA (doctorate of musical arts) degree in composition from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he studies under Steve Dembski.

His compositions have been performed in many locations throughout the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. He has composed pieces in various styles, such as modern music, popular Latin music, and jazz. As a pianist, Pavel performs classical, orchestral, modern, salsa, merengue, bachata, and Latin Jazz music. He has performed with several artists, including Roscoe Mitchell, Romulo Castro, Guillermo Anderson, Richard Davis, Hector Tricoche, La Palabra, Ricky Gonzalez and Sergio George. Pavel has performed in a variety of venues, such as the annual Summerfest, the International Double Reed Society Convention, and the Latin Festival in Milwaukee. He also serves as musical director for the Latino Cultural Alliance (LCU) based in Milwaukee, WI, and accompanies visiting musicians in their performances of Latin-American music.