It’s one thing to live your life with no knowledge of your heritage, but for Martin Espino that is not an option and that’s what he stressed to roughly 100 students in the Clock Tower Auditorium at Oxnard College March 18.

“Most people know something, but not a lot,” said Espino, an expert on Ancient American music. “We need to spend time knowing some things about our ancestors.”

Espino and his sound of Ancient Americas presentation, which included a solo concert of ancient music, were brought to Oxnard by the Oxnard College Literature, Arts and Lecture Series fronted by Shelley Savren. The series is an ongoing event with weekly speakers.
Along with being an expert on ancient music, Espino also brought a comedic aspect to his lecture.

“People were laughing at his jokes,” Savren said. “I could see that the students loved what he was saying, and were very interested.”

Espino told stories of how he gained the knowledge of his heritage.

When he was 9 –years-old, he was watching a TV add that stated “who are you?”

He said that advertisement made him start asking questions about his heritage.

The art of music had always been around Espino.

He used to play the guitar, but he made the transition to playing his percussive instruments.

According to Espino’s website (www.martinespino.com), Martin has been teaching and working with students since the age of 13.

“About age 9, I was inquisitive with spiritual thoughts,” Espino said.

“I think that spiritual things are the deeper thoughts that you have.”

Students were not the only ones who saw the benefits in his lessons; professors were also on hand to hear Espino’s advice.

“I think education happens in and out of the classroom,” said Cecilia Milan, a Spanish professor at Oxnard College. “This lecture gives us a chance to expand on ideas that come up in class, it makes whatever we are studying in class come alive.”

For more information on upcoming Oxnard College Speaker Series events, contact Shelley Savren at [email protected], or at (805) 986-5800 ext. 1951.