معرفی
Roberto De Leon serves as an Instructor in the School of Music at Northern Illinois University (NIU), within the College of Visual and Performing Arts. He directs Banda NIU and maintains active roles as a mariachi teacher at Orozco Academy and substitute teacher for Chicago Public Schools, bridging academic and community music education.
His educational background includes:
- Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University
- Performer’s Certificate from Northern Illinois University
Professor De Leon's expertise centers on Latin American music with specialized focus on Mexican traditions. He is a recognized practitioner of banda and mariachi genres while also contributing to steelpan and world music pedagogy. His approach integrates performance, arrangement, and cultural preservation through ensemble direction and community engagement.
With a career spanning multiple institutions, Professor De Leon founded Banda UNM (later Banda505) at The University of New Mexico and established the first formal banda program at Atrisco Heritage High School in Albuquerque. His current leadership of Banda NIU continues this legacy of developing student ensembles while maintaining active performance roles in Chicago-area community groups.
