A Friend at the Foundation of the Company

Ernesto was part of the company’s early circle of Cuban friends and artists. A close friend of founding Artistic Director Amanda Gill, he became the first member of our board. He also joined the dancing, learning Casino with Amanda and sharing the musical knowledge he had developed throughout his life.

In his account of DC Casineros’ beginnings, Artistic Director Adrian Valdivia remembers Ernesto as a guiding voice. He helped the group understand that the steps and rhythms belonged to a living culture, encouraging care with the names, music and character of Cuban dance. His contribution reached beyond administration: it helped ground the company’s artistic identity.

A Life in Music

Born in Havana, Ernesto began studying guitar with his father at five. His training in Cuba included Leo Brouwer and Antonio Alberto Rodríguez; in 1995 he received a scholarship to study with Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory.

His concert career reached audiences across the Americas and Europe, including a Carnegie Hall debut in September 1999. He chaired the guitar department at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music and mentored young musicians. His recordings, including Ernesto Tamayo Plays Bach, Melodías Cubanas and The Cuban Guitarist, preserve his work as an interpreter and composer.

We honor Ernesto for his artistry, his friendship and the care he brought to our earliest years. Remembering him is also remembering the people who taught us to listen closely and to keep Cuban culture at the heart of our work.

Listen to Ernesto

An archived performance of Bach’s Prelude, BWV 1007, offers a way to encounter his music.

Watch the performance on YouTube · Explore recordings shared by Daily Guitars

His Music Brought Us Together

Randell brought the sound and spirit of Cuban percussion to Washington, D.C. Born in Cuba, he began playing percussion at eight and went on to perform with groups including Los Papines and Alaafia. As director of Orishabó, he led a five-piece ensemble whose “RumBata” approach brought rumba together with Orisha rhythms. He also shared his knowledge through private and group percussion teaching.

A Shared Stage at the Kennedy Center

One of our treasured collaborations was the Kennedy Center’s Artes de Cuba festival in 2018. Randell and Orishabó joined DC Casineros for rumba columbia and live demonstrations exploring the instruments and rhythms of Son and Timba. Together, musicians and dancers helped audiences hear, see and experience the connections between Cuban music and movement.

For our company, that collaboration was also a celebration of the Cuban community in Washington. Cuban friends and their families were part of the occasion, bringing the people who carry these traditions into the heart of the performance.

Remembering Our Friend

We remember Randell for his musicianship and for the energy, love and generosity he brought to our shared work. He was a dear friend whose collaborations with DC Casineros became part of our history. His presence made those moments joyful, and our gratitude reaches beyond the stage.

We honor his life by remembering the music we made together, the friendships it strengthened and the Cuban culture he shared with our community.

Watch Our Artes de Cuba Collaboration

The Kennedy Center recording preserves this chapter of our shared history.

Watch the full performance on YouTube · Explore our performance archive