Dr. Giovanni A. Perez is uncompromising in his quest to equip students for global adaptability and translatability within musical, missiological, education and entrepreneurial contexts. He arrived at Liberty University in Fall 2021 as the inaugural Assistant Professor of Global Music and Applied Flute. He directs the Global Music Ensemble & Flute Choir, facilitates Entrepreneurship in Music and Ethnomusicological courses, and provides guidance for Music & Worship ensembles. Dr. Pérez teaches Flute Performance within traditional, contemporary, global and commercial styles, and supports numerous departments through his skill in performance, production and arranging throughout the School of Music.
Dr. Pérez has received awards and nominations including a 2015 Latin GRAMMY Award Nomination for Best Latin Jazz/Jazz Album as Producer, Recording Engineer, and Piccoloist; 2018 Global Music® Award (Gold Medal) Winner as Mixing Engineer for Best Meditation Music Album; and 2015-2016 10-time DownBeat® Music Award Winner as an Ensemble Member (flutist), Producer, & Mixing Engineer for Blues/Pop/Rock Group and Latin Group. Dr. Pérez believes in the power of maintaining a spirit of authenticity, collaboration, and intercultural and intergenerational empathy to improve the impact value of creative products and services. As one of the few Global Ambassadors for Worldwind Music UK, Dr. Pérez provides the 8-time UK Music Industry® Award Winning company with high-quality musical content, strategic communications, and career-preparation-focused interviews to advance both the company and the field of professional digital musicianship.
As CEO of GP Music Enterprises, Dr. Pérez is regularly contracted to produce, audio engineer, perform flute and percussion, orchestrate, and arrange for albums by top-tier industry professionals within the styles of classical, jazz and global music. Such professionals include Jim Walker, José Valentino, Bruno Miranda, Viviana Guzman and others. As a member of the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts’ Victory Players (an acclaimed socio-centric global/contemporary music ensemble), Dr. Pérez can be seen performing new works that promote access, equity and inclusivity for under-represented composers. Dr. Pérez’s arrangements and orchestrations have been world-premiered at The Midwest Clinic, National Association of Music Merchants, National Flute Association (x3), Jazz Education Network, and at numerous universities.
