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Peter Apaza (Pachamama Committee Member & MC) learned the indigenous sounds of Peru from his father. His family’s group, Viento Andion (Andean Winds) played traditional Altiplano music.

After immigrating to New York in 1988, Apaza launched his own group, Peru Andino, which consists of twenty-five members who perform huayno dances of Puno, the marinera (the national dance of Peru ) and other traditional dances. Apaza is also a representative of the Conco de Consulta, a group of ten volunteers at the Peruvian Consulate who help New York ’s Peruvian community obtain travel permits and send remittances to Peru .  Apaza is Pachamama’s Maestro of Ceremonies at our public events.

Carlos Bernales (Pachamama On-Site Coordinator & Publicity Coordinator) is a composer, pianist and organist, Bernales also directs the Holy Cross Choir, in Brooklyn .  He holds a Master Degree in both Composition and Piano and performs regularly with his trio La Piantada.  He is devoted to the study of Latin music, especially the music of the Andes and emigrated from Peru in 1993.  Bernales is the PPA Coordinator, handling the weekly operations at PS 212; in addition he assists with writing and distributing Pachamama’s publicity materials. 

Sonya Lopes Bayona (Funding Coordinator) is a Peruvian American, and an advocate of preserving the traditions of indigenous peoples. She formerly performed with the Andean Cultural Group Inka Kusi Sonqo. Currently, she is the Planning Coordinator of development at a non-profit in New York City .  She learned of Pachamama Peruvian Arts in the summer of 2006 and joined the Pachamama Committee shortly thereafter as the volunteer grant writer.

Rosa Carhuallanqui (Artistic Director & Pachamama Instructor) leads instruction in Andean and Amazonian dances. She is the founder of Peru Inca Folk Company which presents the dances of Peru ’s coast, mountains and jungle and has performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center , Festi-Andes and the Hispanic Parade, among others.  Carhuallanqui is a graduate from the National School of Folklore in Lima , Peru .  As the Artistic Director, she envisions and manages artistic programs for Pachamama Peruvian Arts in collaboration with Committee, Teachers, Coordinator and Director. 

Gabrielle M. Hamilton, (Pachamama Director) is a folklorist and researcher with extensive expertise in Native American traditions. She is the founding director of Pachamama Peruvian Arts at CTMD and has served as a Director and Senior Researcher at Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI); conducted extensive research on the Native collections at Utah State University (where she received her Master’s Degree) and served as a consultant for the Kainai (Blood) Tribe, where she is an honorary member. She has taught at all levels in the United States and abroad and has conducted folklore residencies. Hamilton has been published in academic and popular journals and has been presented at numerous speaking engagements.

Andrés Jiménez (Pachamama Committee Member) is the Director and co-founder of the Andean Cultural Group Inka Kusi Sonqo which is dedicated to the music and dances of the southern Peruvian departments of Apurímac, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Puno, Cuzco and Junín.  In addition to his group presentations, Jiménez has performed and recorded with other Andean groups located in New York , including: Tahuantinsuyo, Khana, Inkhay, Wayramarka and Takillacta. Although he was born in New York , Jiménez has studied and performed with several groups from southern Peru . Jiménez has also taught the quena (Andean wooden flute) for Pachamama.

Héctor Morales (Pachamama Instructor) leads our class in cajón-- a box drum used in both Afro-Peruvian and Creole music.  Originally from Lima , Morales studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Peru as well as studying with Julio “Chocolate” Algendones of Perú Negro.  Morales earned his Bachelor of Music degree from William Paterson University and performs with Alcatraz : Afro-Peruvian Jazz.

Marcos Napa (Pachamama Instructor) leads instruction in the Afro-Peruvian dance and percussion. Napa has over twenty years of artistic experience in Afro-Peruvian music and dance.  His career began as a percussionist with the Grammy-nominated, Perú Negro, deemed a National Treasure of Peru, under the direction of his uncle, Ronaldo Campos.  He has accompanied Grammy-nominated Eva Ayllon as well as Maria Carmen Dongo, Mariela Valencia and Lucila Campos. Napa served as Pachamama’s first Artistic Director.  Presently Napa teaches and performs throughout the NY tri-state area.

Luz A. Pereira L. (Assistant Director and Instructor) leads instruction in coastal dances.    Pereira began her career in 1962 after graduating from Peru ’s College of Folk Music and Dance-- completing her final exams under Rosa Elvira Figueroa, José María Arguedas, Lucha Egoaguirre and others.  In 1965, Pereira ’s delegation won the First Latin America Festival of Folklore held in Salta , Argentina .  Since late 1970s she has participated in many festivals, workshops and presentations and at such venues as the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center , Carnegie Hall and others across the United States and Canada , with the group Tahuantinsuyo and later with Inkay.  As the Assistant Director, Pereira handles nearly all aspects of Pachamama with Hamilton .

Jose Ruiz (Pachamama Instructor) leads instruction in the zampoña (panpipe).  He studied quena (flute) and tinya (Andean drum) in the Casa de Magisterio del Ministerio de Educación del Perú.  Later he taught music and dance in the Universidad Agraria and in the Centro de Folklore de la Universidad Católica.  In 1989 he immigrated to the US, participating in the groups: Khana and Sumac Punchau.  At the moment he is the director of the Center of Cultural Expression Wayra Marka of New Jersey.