FIU Music Festival: Tony Succar - A Latin Night

Tropical rhythms, Latin big-band arrangements and jazz fill the Wertheim Concert Hall as Tony Succar and saxophonist-composer Dr. Pablo Gil lead the Raíces Jazz Orchestra in a program created for the 2026 FIU Music Festival. Presented Wednesday, October 21, the concert features the 20-plus-piece ensemble with special guest Mimy Succar and additional vocalists as part of The Wertheim’s 30th-anniversary season.

Born in Peru and raised in Miami, Tony Succar is a Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning percussionist, producer, composer and arranger who earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in jazz performance at FIU. Gil, a Venezuelan-born saxophonist, composer and arranger, founded the Raíces Jazz Orchestra to explore the musical traditions of Latin America through the language and instrumentation of jazz. The ensemble’s work has also been featured in the PBS Great Performances special Roots of Latin Jazz.

Mimy Succar, Tony’s mother and frequent collaborator, joins the program as featured vocalist. Their recent collaborations include the Grammy-winning Alma, Corazón y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional), reflecting the family’s blend of Peruvian, Japanese, Caribbean and broader Latin musical influences.