James Fernando and Gerson Lanza

Hailed as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” James Fernando joins forces with Gerson Lanza, a captivating tap dancer recognized by The New York Times. Together, they draw from jazz and Afro-Latin traditions to create a dynamic performance where music and dance engage in a powerful, improvisational dialogue.

James Fernando is a Philadelphia-based pianist and composer whose music seamlessly blends jazz, classical, and electronic influences. He has been hailed by World Music Report as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” by Jazz Sensibilities as “limitless in his ability to articulate his ideas,” and by Contemporary Fusion Reviews for “creating one of the most amazing musical experiences you’ve ever had.”

A former Strathmore Artist in Residence (2021–2022), Fernando has received numerous accolades, including recognition from DownBeat Magazine, the National YoungArts Foundation, and first prize at the West Virginia International Piano Competition. In 2017, he participated in the prestigious Banff International Workshop in Jazz & Creative Music. He graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music in just three years.

Fernando has performed at premier venues and festivals worldwide, as well as for private audiences, including elected officials, celebrities, and billionaires. His collaborators include GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom Paxton, GRAMMY winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, steelpan virtuoso Victor Provost, and jazz luminary Chris Cheek.

Originally from La Ceiba, Honduras, Gerson Lanza first encountered the art form of tap dance after moving to New York City in 2001. He immediately fell in love with the art after his first encounter. Lanza began training at Wadleigh School for the Performing and Visual Arts and the Harlem School of the Arts. He has completed residencies at Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, Guggenheim Work and Progress Series, Fall for Dance Festival at New York City Center with New York-based company Music From The Sole, led by Leonardo Sandoval and Gregory Richardson. In his own right he has been featured as Strathmore Amplify Artist and Artist in Residence, featured in Artist at the Center at New York City Center, curated by Ayodele Casel, which landed his first New York Times review for his choreographic work, and lastly headlined the Millennium Stage with his jazz quintet at The Kennedy Center—all while simultaneously working towards a master’s degree in performance studies and dance from the University of Maryland.

Lanza received his Master in Fine Arts (MFA) from The University of Maryland, where he focused on the Afro-Latinx diaspora. His research landed him the International Program for Creative Collaboration & Research Grant to study the relation of the African diaspora in Honduras and Spain through the lens of tap dance. Gerson has also served as a consultant and presenter for 92 Street Y's newest curriculum, "Tracing Footsteps, " taught by performing arts educators in New York City. Whether performing alongside spoken word artists, musicians, other dancers, or in solo performances, Lanza mesmerizes with complex moves that he makes look easy. 

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