Biography
Welson Tremura (musicologist – guitarist-singer) is a Ph.D. in musicology-ethnomusicology from Florida State University and currently serves as a Professor in the School of Music and the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida. Dr. Tremura is also the Associate Director for the Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship, and the Director for the Florida-Brazil International Linkage Institute. Dr. Tremura’s main research focuses on music and religion as expressed in folk Catholicism traditions of folia de reis or the Three Kings celebration in Brazil. Additional research areas include the usage of digital technology in performance and global technology and the inclusion of world music as a core discipline and collaborative method for teaching and collaboration. His new book Chapter: "Folia de Reis: an Afro-Brazilian Experience in Rural Brazil with "Understanding America: the Essential Contribution of Afro-American Music to the Sociocultural Meaning of the Continent" a book publication to be released in the Spring of 2022.
Combining his classical guitar and his voice, Dr. Tremura triumphant performances include performance halls in the USA such as the Carnegie Hall in New York City and DeBartolo Performing Arts Center in Notre Dame, Indiana. Internationally Dr. Tremura maintains an active performance and academic schedule and has performed and given lectures in Brazil, China, Mexico, Guatemala, United States, India, Spain, Italy, Germany, and New Zealand. Dr. Tremura has been consistently praised by music critics and audiences for his interpretation of the most acclaimed bossa nova songs and his guitar compositions.
Dr. Tremura’s academic assignments include a series of projects to expand music and performance scholarship to create opportunities for students, faculty, and artists to collaborate nationally and internationally. His academic career has been building collaborative relationships between various units at the University of Florida to create new and unique programs to facilitate interdisciplinary projects, such as composing music to foster creativity and innovation Dr. Tremura’s Brazilian Music Institute (BMI) is the result of a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and supported by the UF School of Music, Broward College, UF Center for Latin American Studies, UF Center for World Arts, Art Serve, U.S. Department of Education Title VI Program and Visit Gainesville, are Dr. Tremura’s artistic excellence and most acclaimed annual event. Since 2001 the Institute in the month of May features daily rehearsals and group lessons in Brazilian instrumental and vocal music, as well as, two concluding concerts with international outstanding Brazilian artists. Dr. Tremura maintains an updated video channel available on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/wtremura and Vimeo https://vimeo.com/tremura
Dr. Tremura teaches various courses in ethnomusicology, guitar, applied fieldwork, music and identity, Latin American music, and world music. Furthermore, he teaches Brazilian guitar and vocal repertoires and directs the World Music Ensembles. He is also the director of the instrumental ensemble Jacaré Chorohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOCEoyicEf8&t=2044s is dedicated to the performance of Brazilian traditional instrumental music. and is the co-director for the University’s Brazilian music ensemble Jacaré Brazil. Most recently Dr. Tremura has expanded his professional activities by founding the Alachua Guitar Quartet, https://www.facebook.com/alachuaguitarquartet/ a classical guitar ensemble devoted to the highest level of expression and artistic commitment to perform Latin American classical guitar repertoires.
Dr. Tremura’s academic and artistic work has been applying music in a collaborative model focused on research and performance excellence. The various units at the University of Florida, including the School of Music, School of Theater and Dance, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, and Academic Technology, aided by international institutions such as Chengdu University in China, the Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil, Tampa University in the USA, and New Zealand School of Music in Wellington has allowed his work to develop and expand the Latin American arts linkages in local, state, national and international arenas and key to successful endeavors and service to the profession.