Faculty

Music Faculty

Name	Office Location	Phone / E-mail
Orozco, Cisco Faculty	Building 4, Room 105	(206) 592-4088 corozco@highline.edu
Thomas, Benjamin Faculty	Building 4, Room 103	(206) 592-4294 bthomas@highline.edu

Learn more about our faculty

Cisco Orozco

Dr. Cisco Orozco left Oakland, CA and arrived in Seattle in 2003 to pursue his academic interests in Brazilian Capoeira, Son Jarocho and Fandango, and Latine popular music in the U.S. He eventually earned a doctorate degree in ethnomusicology in 2012 from the University of Washington.

Before becoming a faculty member at Highline College, he was involved in projects and work that bridged his interests in Ethnomusicology and Latine studies. This includes researching the “Chicano Soul” scene of 1960’s San Antonio, working as associate curator on the ground-breaking exhibit and website, “American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music,” teaching in the departments of Music and American Ethnic Studies, participating in the Seattle Fandango Project, and performing with the Afro-Peruvian arts organization De Cajon Project.

Benjamin Thomas

In demand as a performer and educator, Ben Thomas combines an energetic performance technique with a distinctive compositional style. As a vibraphonist, percussionist, and bandoneon player, he can be found playing tango, jazz, chamber music and Latin jazz throughout the Northwest.

Ben has released six albums of original compositions on Origin Records as a leader or co-leader, including The Madman’s Difference, The Mystagogue, and Triskaidekaphobia. His most recent CD, The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle, has been called a “profoundly evocative album worthy of our full attention.”

Since 2005, Ben has been a member of Brazilian pianist/composer Jovino Santos Neto’s Quinteto. Their most recent album is Current on the Adventure Music label.