MEDIA ADVISORY
GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST JON SECADA
TO SERVE AS VISITING PROFESSOR AT
MIAMI DADE COLLEGE’S KENDALL CAMPUS
MIAMI, August 6, 2007 – Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Secada will join the Miami Dade College teaching staff as a visiting professor at the Kendall Campus beginning this fall. Secada will formally sign the agreement and donate his fee back to the College for student scholarships. The signing will take place on Friday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. at MDC’s Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104 St. Room K413, Miami. The media is invited to attend.
The dynamic entertainer is no stranger to the College. Before his singing career took off, Secada was a voice and humanities professor in the music department at MDC’s North Campus from 1986-1991. Now that he’s returned to the College, Secada will provide instruction for the Kendall Campus’ music and commercial music departments. In addition to teaching in the classroom, he will provide students with formal coaching.
Secada will also conduct master classes and workshops in the areas of music business, voice, sound recording, song writing, jazz and pop ensembles and musical theater. These sessions will be free and open to the public.
As a visiting professor, Secada will be joining another well-known entertainer who’s also a member of MDC’s music department teaching staff – saxophonist Ed Calle, who’s been with the college since 2001.
“Jon’s expertise will be a great asset to our students,” said Rodester Brandon, chairman of the music, theater and dance department at the Kendall Campus. “He has lived the dreams they are aspiring to reach. Jon’s a great people person; he is very relatable. His experience reinforces to our students that they too can have a successful career if they continue to work hard and cultivate their educational opportunities.”
In February Secada performed an intimate, 45-minute concert at the Kendall Campus. During the appearance, the engaging singer/songwriter passionately preached the importance of education while performing a variety of his hits including: “Angel”, “Just Another Day” and “I’m Free”.
Secada, who started his career as a backup singer for Gloria Estefan, skyrocketed to international fame in 1992 when he released his self-titled album “Jon Secada.” The album earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. His music has appealed to a broad audience selling more than 20 million albums world-wide. Secada has also written songs for some of the top artists in the music industry including Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan and Mandy Moore.
WHAT: Jon Secada signs visiting professor contract with Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus and donates fee back to the college.
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: MDC’s Kendall Campus 11011 SW 104 St. Room K413, Miami.
Media contacts: Manolo Barco, (305) 237-3081; Beverly C. Rodrigues, MDC director of media relations (305) 237-3949 or Juan Mendieta, MDC director of communications (305) 237-7611.