Under the direction of Prof. Uziel Colón Ramos, the Cal State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble provides graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to study and perform music from the rich traditions of Latin American. The ensemble has established itself as one of the most exciting student music ensembles of its kind in the nation. As part of the ensemble, the students have had the opportunity to perform with many guest artists of international stature including Pablo Menendez, Orestes Vilato, Frank Emilio Flynn, Edgardo Cambon, Gonzalo Chomat, Adonis Puentes, Oskar Cartaya, and Fausto Cuevas among many others.
In 2008, the Cal State LA Afro-Latin Ensemble began an annual event to highlight the contributions of great Afro-Latin musicians. Featured for the premiere event was famed Salsa pianist Larry Harlow in a concert that included an array of Salsa performers. The 2009 Gala Concert played to a crowd of over 800 enthusiastic fans in the Luckman Center on November 21st. The concert featured a return appearance by Larry Harlow for the first ever live performance of his famed “Salsa Suite.” Among the featured performers were famed percussionist Guillermo “Memo” Acevedo, vocalist Iris Sandra Cepeda, percussionist Joaquin Arteaga, and the featured vocalist for the Salsa Suite, Adonis Puentes. As a result of these concerts honoring Larry Harlow eager fans and supporters contributed to establish the Larry Harlow Fund for Afro-Latin Music Studies. The fund supports the Latin music study programs at California State University, Los Angeles. The Afro-Latin Ensemble has been invited to perform in many venues and events including the International Society for Music Education World Conference in Beijing China. The ensemble is open to qualified Cal State LA students by audition.