Anthony Mendez & Esperanza Arts Center
Anthony Mendez is an artist, educator, and cultural leader dedicated to preserving and sharing AfroPuerto Rican traditions. His ensemble, Los Bomberos De La Calle, specializes in traditional and contemporary styles of Bomba and Plena music.
As part of Recomposing America, ACF is supporting the world premiere of a new work modeled after the annual Fiesta de la Calle de San Sebastián in Puerto Rico. The performance is part of Esperanza Arts Center’s VOCES series highlighting Indigenous cultural traditions from Latin America and the Caribbean.
World Premiere
Saturday, May 30, 2026, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. EDT
Gran Salon & Plaza | Teatro Esperanza
4261 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
Tickets
About Anthony Mendez
Anthony Mendez is a teaching artist, music and dance educator, and cultural leader with over 20 years of experience dedicated to preserving and sharing AfroPuerto Rican traditions, particularly Bomba and Plena. Originally from Queens, New York, he moved to Philadelphia at the age of 19, where his path as an artist and educator took root. He is the Executive Director of PhillyBombaPlena Cultural Center, where he designs and leads culturally grounded music, dance, and arts programs for youth, adults, schools, and community audiences, while managing a diverse range of teaching artists, musicians, and dance performers across programs and performances.
Anthony’s journey into Bomba and Plena began in 2006–07 when he was introduced to the tradition through Philadelphia-based music and dance groups such as Philareyto, Familia Rojas, and Tamboricua. These early experiences sparked a lifelong commitment to learning preserving, and sharing Afro-Puerto Rican cultural tradition through community.
About Esperanza Arts Center
Esperanza Arts Center is the center for Latino arts and culture in the Philadelphia region – presenting music, dance, theater, cinema, and visual art from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as a broad spectrum of traditions from around the world. Esperanza is a multi-service education and community economic development organization operating culturally sensitive programs to address the unmet needs of North Philadelphia’s community. For almost 40 years, they have been leading the transformation of Hunting Park so that the Hispanic community can enjoy affordable housing, safe and beautiful streets, high-quality education, job training, access to local cultural resources, and vibrant business districts. They have a dedicated staff of over 800 people working from a 17-acre campus to improve overall quality of life.
American Composers Forum’s ACF | connect program is made possible with the outstanding generosity of the following individuals: Jane Anfinson, Thomas Arneson, Suzanne Asher, Carol Barnett, Pearl and Bob Bergad, Margee and Will Bracken, Karen Brooks, Richard Cisek and Kay Fredericks, Dee Ann and Kent Crossley, Julia W. Dayton, C. Lee Essrig, Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation, Katherine Goodale, Jeff and Hyun Mee Graves, Carol Heen, Steve Heitzeg and Gwen Pappas, Kathleen Henschel and John Dewes, Linda and Jack Hoeschler, Leaetta Hough and Bob Muschewske, Sam Hsu and Sally Cheng, Hella Mears Hueg Estate Gift, Thelma Hunter Estate Gift, John and Ruth Huss, George Frederick Jewett Foundation East, Art and Martha Kaemmer, Jon Lewis and Lisa Merklin, Mike and Kay McCarthy, Greg McNeely, Alfred and Ann Moore, Louis and Gloria Nuechterlein, John Nuechterlein and Dan Monson, John and Debbie Orenstein, I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation in memory of Thelma Hunter, David and Judy Ranheim, Denice Rippentrop, Vanessa Rose, Bill and Susan Sands, Gale Sharpe, Doug and Kathy Skor, Dan and Ellie Thomas, Stephen and Jayne Usery, Kathleen van Bergen, Janika Vandervelde, Jim Wafler, and Margaret and Angus Wurtele.