Palisades Media Arts Academy

Palisades Media Arts Academy, also known as PMAA, is a free program offered to residents of the Jane and Finch area in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The program provides training in arts from professionals with years of experience in areas of audio production, live instrumentation, and film and video production. Main focus is on daily structured curriculum and tailored workshops to fit every client. Facilities included are a cinema, recording studio, computer lab, kitchen and lounge area. Youth 'n' Charge is a youth driven program that offers mentorship to youth in music production through equipment and training. The program allows youth to create own music with original backing tracks and own instrumentals.
The curriculum was created by Ruben Esguerra. Born in Colombia - Ruben ‘Beny’ Esguerra is a multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and arts educator. As a musician Ruben leads the 13 piece outfit New Tradition band created to accompany international artists with some of the most sought after musicians in Toronto, Canada. As a composer he has written original scores for the CBC, City Life Film, Amnesty International and the National Film Board of Canada.
As a lyricist and spoken word artist he has presented his pieces in festivals held in Canada; Cuba; Venezuela; Colombia and Chile. Highlights include being commissioned by the Remix Project and the Department of Canadian Heritage to create and perform a spoken word piece welcoming Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean to deliver the opening speech introducing the ‘Ignite the Americas’ conference.
As an arts educator Ruben has worked at York University teaching and lecturing since the age of 22. Ruben currently facilitates workshops through the Ontario Arts Council’s Artist in Education Program bringing drumming and storytelling as a healthy form of self-expression to inner city school as well as schools in rural areas across Ontario. He is currently the Program Coordinator and instructor for the Palisades Media Arts Academy based in Jane and Finch Toronto. Ruben is a PhD (ABD) candidate in Musicology/Ethnomusicology specializing in traditional and urban music.

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