Roberto Palomeque
Marimba / Percussion
Dr. Palomeque's Bio
Dr. Roberto Palomeque embraces the traditions of Mexican music and unites his roots with academic training in a powerful combination of elements, including popular music and jazz, with contemporary and concert repertoires.
Dr. Palomeque has received several awards, including the first prize in Belgium’s “Universal Marimba Duo Competition 2013”. He won the “1st Keiko Abe Latin-America Marimba Solo Competition” with Ms. Keiko Abe as jury president and took first place in the “6th National Marimba Solo Contest 2010” in Mexico. In addition, he was awarded “The Young Talent Artistic Award” by the Mexican Government in 2013 and the prestigious scholarship for the arts in Mexico given by FONCA (The National Endowment for Culture and Arts) with the project: “The Marimba Development into the 21st Century,” which toured universities and schools of music throughout Mexico in 2018.
During his career, Dr. Palomeque has collaborated with world-class musicians such as Keiko Abe (Japan), Emmanuel Sejourné (France), Dave Samuels (USA), Ney Rosauro (Brazil), Nanae Nimura (Japan), Ludwig Albert (Belgium), David Friedman, (USA), Zeferino Nandayapa (Mexico), Takayoshi Yoshioka (Japan), John Wooton (USA), Aly Keita (Senegal), Eriko Daimo (Japan), Victor Mendoza (USA-Mexico) and others. Also, he has performed concerts, recitals, and workshops as a soloist or member of prestigious chamber groups such as UNICACH Percussion Ensemble, Paax Percussion, Jatz Percussion Trio, Na’rimbo group, and Flanders Marimba Ensemble throughout Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, the United States, and Mexico.
As a college professor, Dr. Roberto Palomeque has experience teaching all levels as a pedagogue and researcher, teaching at The University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas, Mexico (UNICACH), held a TA percussion position at The University of Southern Mississippi (2020- 2023). He is currently percussion professor, director of the percussion studio, percussion ensemble, and marimba choir at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota since 2023.
Roberto holds a bachelor’s in music performance from The University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas (UNICACH), a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Antwerp (Belgium), and a DMA in Percussion Performance at the University of Southern Mississippi.
