Arturo O’Farrill, a Grammy-award winning pianist, composer, and educator, will present on “Christian Faith in the Music Business” at Lee University on Saturday, April 23. The event will take place at 12 p.m. in the Squires Recital Hall, located in Lee’s Humanities Center.

O’Farrill, who is also the founder and artistic director of the nonprofit Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, is best known for his contributions to contemporary Latin jazz.

“Arturo O’Farrill is part of one of the most important musical families in America having emigrated from Cuba,” said Dr. Nathan Warner, assistant professor of trumpet and music business at Lee. “He is carrying on the legacy of his father, the late great Chico O’Farrill, and is one of the most important voices in the Afro-Latin Jazz community.”

After studying at the Manhattan School of Music, the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, O’Farrill worked with artists such as Carla Bley, Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Turre, Freddy Cole, The Fort Apache Band, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, and Harry Belafonte. O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra performs regularly at Birdland, one of the most popular jazz clubs in the United States.

“In addition to being a Grammy Award-winner, he is also one of the most important musical ambassadors to Cuba,” said Warner. “When the U.S. Embassy in Cuba reopened recently, Mr. O’Farrill’s presence was specifically requested at its first-flag-raising in decades.”

As an educator, O’Farrill has taught master classes, seminars, and workshops throughout the world for students and teachers of all levels. He currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at Brooklyn College.

This is a free, non-ticketed event and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Lee University School of Music at (423) 614-8240.