Victor Gonzalez is a teaching associate at UIC where he works with students who play percussion within the Jazz program. Victor’s musical career has seen him play and record throughout various genres, earning him a reputation of being one of the more versatile percussionists in the Mid-West. These include playing with Latin and Afro Cuban acts such as Tito Puente Jr., Paquito D’Rivera, Cachao Mambo All-Stars, Jazz artist Etienne Charles and The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, and studio sessions with Brian Lynch and the Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, amongst others.
In 2013, Victor began teaching percussion as part of an afterschool program in a Chicago public High School. What started off as an afterschool session turned into a credited enrichment course which spanned 3 additional years. It was during this time where Victor developed his teaching which he’s now excited to share at UIC.