René Gonzalez
Latin Music Specialist
René Gonzalez is a Lecturer at Texas State University in the Latin Music Studies program, where he teaches Applied Latin Percussion, Salsa Rehearsal Techniques and Literature, Jazz and Latin Ensemble Techniques, and Afro-Cuban Percussion. He also serves as director of the Texas State Latin Ensemble.
René holds both a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Latin Music Performance/Percussion Performance from Texas State University. He has been fortunate to study with esteemed educators including John Mallon, Hector Gil, Alice Gomez, John Lopez, Bobby Lopez, and Genaro Gonzalez. He also served as a graduate teaching assistant for the Percussion Studio and Latin Music Studies program.
As a member of the university’s award-winning salsa band, Salsa del Río, René earned numerous accolades, including “Best Conguero” at the 50th Annual Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival (2008) and a DownBeat Magazine award for “Best Blues, Pop, and Rock Recording” for the album Llorarás (2007). The ensemble also received three awards at Univision’s Premios a la Música Latina for Best Salsa Band of the Year and performed internationally at the Brienz Jazz Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
An active performer, René currently is the conguero with Cienfuegos/La Moña Loca (Austin), vibraphonist and music director for Terra Nova Latin Jazz (San Antonio), bongocero for Natiao (San Antonio), and conguero with Combo Chévere and conguero with Río Soul Orchestra (San Antonio). He is also the bandleader of his own project, Con Swing, and freelances throughout Central Texas.
René has performed at major events including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), Jazz’SAlive in San Antonio, the NAMM Show in Anaheim, and the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Poncho Sanchez, Luis Conte, Larry Harlow, Pete and Rita Rodriguez, Tito Puente Jr, Memo Acevedo, Victor Rendon, Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, Luis Gasca, Georgie Padilla, Ed Calle, J.R. Robinson, Butch Miles, Danny Seraphine, Russ Miller, Herman Matthews, Bill Gibson, Gregg Bissonette, Victor Wooten, Lalo Davila, and many others.
In addition to performing, René is an active clinician and educator across Central Texas. He regularly works with middle school and high school Jazz/band/percussion programs and serves on the instructional staff for summer programs including the UTSA Percussion Camp and Texas State Percussion Camp.
In 2018, René joined the instructional staff of Rhythmic Force Independent Drumline in Austin, teaching front ensemble and Latin percussion. The group earned Top 10 finalist placements at the WGI World Championships in both 2018 and 2019.
Since 2012, René has taught percussion in Comal ISD in New Braunfels, Texas, where he leads beginner percussion classes and ensembles at Canyon Middle School and Church Hill Middle School. He founded both a middle school Brazilian Samba ensemble and a Latin Jazz Ensemble, and also assists with the marching percussion and percussion ensembles at Canyon High School. In 2020, the Church Hill Middle School Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform a showcase at the TMEA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
Outside of his professional work, René enjoys spending time with his family and loves attending concerts with his wife and son.
