Orlando Roman
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Critically acclaimed virtuoso guitarist, Orlando Roman, was brought up in a musically gifted family of eight. American born of Puerto Rican origin, Dr. Roman began to play the guitar at the age of five. He attended renowned schools such as the Boston Conservatory, Stetson University where he graduated Cum Laude, Peabody Conservatory where he received a Masters of Music degree in guitar performance, Florida State University from where he received a Doctorate of Music degree in guitar performance, and the Royal Conservatory in Madrid, where he completed his post-doctoral studies.

Dr. Roman is the recipient of numerous awards including the National Merit Award, New York Curran Award for Music, Selma Levine Professional Development Grant, Mark K. Joseph Grant for research of Afro-Cuban music in Havava, Cuba, Peabody Career Development Grant, and the Maryland State Arts Council Grant for solo performance. In 2002 Dr. Roman was awarded a Fulbright Grant to Madrid, Spain. His numerous competition appearances include first prizes in the Rising Star Recital Competition, the Appalachian State University Guitar Competition, and the Boston Classical Guitar Competition.

Besides a busy performing career Dr. Roman also has an intensive teaching career. He has been on the guitar faculty of the Tallahassee Community College in Florida, Darton College in Georgia, Bainbridge College in Georgia, Selma Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C., The Peabody Conservatory of Music "Outreach Program" in Baltimore and was a graduate teaching assistant for guitar instructions and literature at the Florida State University. Currently, Dr. Roman is on the faculty of St. Mary's College in Maryland, the Baltimore School for the Arts in Baltimore, and The Academy of Music in Gaithersburg. For the past six years he has also been the guitar professor at Young People's Summer Stock Performing, a performing-arts camp in Maryland.
Dr. Roman's numerous performances throughout the United States, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe were praised for their "virtuosity and exceptional musicality" and "sensitivity to details." In addition to his active solo engagements, Dr. Roman often performs with percussionist Orlando Cotto in the Duo Carribe, specializing in Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican Music. He is also an active performer in the Baltimore-Washington Latin-Jazz scene, as the Music Director and a member of several Latin-Jazz bands.