Greeley, Colorado
Alfredo Balcácer is currently an Instructor of Record in Music Technology at the University of Northern Colorado, where he is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Jazz Guitar and Composition. A three-time DownBeat Student Music Award winner, he holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance from Utah State University.
An active performer, Alfredo has appeared in hundreds of concerts across the Dominican Republic, including major venues such as Altos de Chavón and Hard Rock Café. At Utah State University, he performed with the prestigious Utah State Jazz Orchestra, earning a DownBeat Award for Best Performance by a Large Collegiate Ensemble. He also toured Brazil with the Utah State Guitar Trio, performing at the student chapter of the Goiânia Jazz Festival at the Federal University of Goiás. During his time at Western Michigan, he completed a Canadian tour as part of the rhythm section of the Western Michigan Gold Company Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Alfredo also recorded with WMU’s Latin Ensemble, Más Que Nada, which earned the ensemble a DownBeat Award for Best Student Latin Recording of the Year.
Balcacer’s first original release is titled "Suspended Sea.” In this record, he blended Afro-Dominican and North American music, focusing on the explosiveness of Latin rhythms and the beautiful and rich harmonic palette of North American jazz. As reviewed by Dan Billawsky from All About Jazz, “this young guitarist colors the ears impressed.” This record features essential musicians, including Dr. Scott Cowan, Latin GRAMMY-winning percussionist Otoniel Nicolas, and mixing engineer Jv Olivier. Most recently, Alfredo was awarded a “Pathways to Jazz Grant” to fund his second album, to be released in 2026. Balcacer is interested in delving into the cross-cultural relation between the music of these countries and how they can coexist organically. Additionally, Alfredo recorded Dr. Socrates Garcia’s Latin Jazz Orchestra's latest album, featuring jazz titans such as Clay Jenkins, Jeff Jarvis, Don Aliquo, and Dana Landry.
As an educator, Alfredo brings extensive experience across diverse academic levels. He previously served for four years as the elementary music teacher at St. Michael’s School, a premier institution in the Dominican Republic. In the United States, he has taught guitar at Marshall Music, Crescendo Academy of Music, and Southtown Guitar, all Midwest academies. Alfredo has also taught masterclasses in Dominican and jazz guitar at the Metropolitan State University of Denver, the University of Northern Colorado, and the National Conservatory of Music in the Dominican Republic.
Throughout his academic career at several institutions, Alfredo has had the opportunity to perform with acclaimed artists including Gene Bertoncini, Samuel Torres, Peter Erskine, George Garzone, John Scofield, Chico Pinheiro, Randy Brecker, Cedric Dent, Philip Catherine, Peter Bernstein, Julian Lage, and Peter Eldridge.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026
4:00 PM - 4:25 PM CST
Thursday, January 8, 2026
11:00 PM - 11:59 PM CST
