Norka Hernández Nadal carries forward the legacy of one of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico’s prominent Bomba families, combining her heritage with a dedicated career with the NYC Public Schools and the performing arts. Alongside her professional work with New York City Public Schools, she is a multi-talented dancer, vocalist, songwriter, percussionist, and drum artisan. In 2003, she co-founded BombaWorksNYC in the Bronx with drum artisan Joe Santiago, establishing a dynamic cultural hub for Afro- Puerto Rican music classes, workshops, and community performances. Her mentorship through BombaWorksNYC has helped foster ensembles including Aya, Titilayo, Demwazèl, La Eñe, and Priyè Mawon. A pioneer for gender representation in traditional arts, Norka established the Women’s Bomba Jam Sessions in 2004 to celebrate and elevate the vital roles of women across all facets of Afro-Puerto Rican genres. Her commitment to preserving regional traditions also led her to found the Afro-Puerto Rican ensemble Bámbula in 2002, bringing specific focus to the distinctive styles of Bomba and Plena Mayagüezana. As a sought-after vocalist and performer, Norka currently serves as one of the lead singers for Kinto Zonó and Ilu Aye. Her expansive performance resume includes collaborations with renowned groups and artists such as Los Pleneros de la 21, William Cepeda & Grupo Afro Boricua, Tato Torres & Yerbabuena, Banda M1, Alma Moyo, Juan Usera & Su Tribu, Bomberas de La Bahia, Las Bompleneras, Danny Rivera, Marlon Fernández, and René Pérez of Calle 13, among others. She has also contributed studio vocal recordings for projects with Hurray for the Riff Raff, Bomba Iyá, and Yerba Buena. Norka’s lifelong advocacy and mastery of Bomba and Plena have earned her wide recognition from government agencies, cultural institutions, and civic leaders. Her expertise has taken her to prestigious academic platforms, including Yale University, Swarthmore College, NYC Public Schools, and numerous community organizations across the New York Tri-State area, where she continues to educate and inspire through traditional practices and living heritage. BombaWorksNYC – https://www.instagram.com/bombaworksnyc/ Amauri “Beto” Santiago Albizu is the Musical Director, Percussionist, and Founder of the group Bomba Iyá. A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Beto is a musician, percussionist, musical director, and promoter of Afro-Puerto Rican culture. With a career dedicated to bomba—a traditional Puerto Rican music and dance form—and the exploration of new sonic landscapes, he has distinguished himself through his commitment to preserving musical roots and introducing bomba to new generations via innovative approaches. For approximately ten years, he served as the musical director for the Delegación del Sur (Southern Delegation) at the Encuentro de Tambores Norma Salazar helping to develop a performance that highlighted the identity, rhythmic power, and cultural richness of bomba from the southern region of Puerto Rico. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with various musical groups and projects, including Rumba Cuembé, Chivo Loco, Pleneros del Lago, and A Un Solo Golpe. He was also a member of the Ballet Folklórico Bambalué, with which he had the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico abroad, bringing the island’s music and traditions to international stages. As the director and creator of Bomba Iyá, he has developed a musical style rooted in the essence of Puerto Rican bomba, infused with elements of rock, reggae, ska, and other contemporary genres. His artistic vision seeks to keep the tradition alive while exploring new forms of musical expression, making this cultural legacy accessible to audiences of all generations. Bomba Iyá has released a full-length album and several singles, all available on major digital music platforms. The group’s sound is defined by powerful percussion, sonic experimentation, and a deep respect for the Afro-Caribbean roots that shape its musical identity. His work bridges the gap between tradition and innovation, reaffirming his commitment to promoting Puerto Rican bomba and fostering new musical expressions from the southern region of Puerto Rico. Through Bomba Iyá, Beto continues to contribute to the growth of Puerto Rican music, taking the sound of bomba beyond its borders and creating new spaces for this tradition to continue evolving. Bomba Iyá – https://www.instagram.com/bombaiyamusica/ Beto Santiago – https://www.instagram.com/betosantig/ Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in 1971, Alberto “Beto” Torrens is a percussionist, vocalist, producer, educator, and cultural ambassador whose artistic career is deeply rooted in the Afro-Puerto Rican tradition of Bomba. Beginning his musical journey with Batucada Baobá under the mentorship of Fernando “Freddy” Díaz, Torrens went on to become a founding member of Bayanga (later Calle 13) and has collaborated and recorded with a wide range of artists and groups including Cultura Profética, Batacumbele, Jerry Medina, Ricky Martin, Puya, and Victor Manuelle. Throughout his diverse musical career, Bomba has remained the foundation of his artistic identity and creative expression. A highly sought-after performer and recording artist, Torrens has contributed to Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed projects with artists such as Elvis Crespo, De La Ghetto, Monsieur Periné, Sie7e, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Henry Cole & The Afrobeat Collective, and Villa Locura. In 2012 he was awarded a Latin Grammy as well as a Grammy nomination for his work on the album “Sobrevolando” by Cultura Profética. As a founding member of the innovative Puerto Rican ensemble IFÉ, he has toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean, performing at major festivals including WOMAD, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Roskilde Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. His solo project, Beto Torrens & IGBÍN, places the Puerto Rican barril de Bomba at the center of a contemporary fusion of Bomba, Reggae, Jazz, Rock, Plena, Afrobeat, and Rumba. Beyond the stage, Torrens is recognized as one of Puerto Rico’s leading advocates for traditional and folkloric music. He directs ensembles such as Bloco Afro Oxalá and La Liga Rumbera, has produced recordings through EGBE Records, and has dedicated much of his career to teaching Bomba and Afro- Caribbean percussion traditions. Through masterclasses, artist residencies, and workshops at institutions including the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Arizona State University, Bembé Drum & Dance, Jacobs School of Music, and community arts organizations across Puerto Rico, the United States, Canada, and Europe, Torrens has helped preserve, promote, and expand the reach of Puerto Rican Bomba for new generations of musicians and audiences. Beto has been a Meinl Percussion endorser since 2010. Beto Torrens – https://www.instagram.com/betorumba/