SUA 25th Anniversary Concert with Nestor Torres

Soka University of America 25th Anniversary Commemorative Concert

Featuring Nestor Torres

Internationally acclaimed flautist Nestor Torres joins the celebration of the first 25 years of Soka University of America with a special commemorative concert.

“It is an immense honor and privilege,” Torres shares, “to have been part of the ceremonies of SUA’s first class and to return 25 years later. My heart is filled with great joy and profound gratitude.”

Blending Latin jazz, classical influences, and deeply personal storytelling, this concert presents a musical journey rooted in themes of peace, humanity, and inner transformation. The program features original compositions inspired by SUA’s and its Founder’s values, including the world premiere of Torres’ Disarmament Suite—a powerful work reflecting on the need for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the enduring legacy of mentor and disciple.

Nestor Torres’ relationship with Soka University of America is linked to its founding history. Having performed at the university’s inaugural ceremonies, his return for this 25th anniversary marks a full-circle moment of artistic and spiritual significance.

On November 1, 2001, SUA founder Daisaku Ikeda personally recognized Torres’ contributions, offering a message upon his Latin Grammy achievement. In it, he expressed heartfelt appreciation for Torres’ performance at SUA’s dedication and praised his mission to bring hope and inspiration to people around the world as “a magnificent emperor of art and an ambassador of peace and culture.”

This commemorative concert stands as a living embodiment of that shared vision—where music becomes a bridge between cultures, a force for peace, and a testament to the enduring bond between artist, mentor, and institution.

Program Highlights

• Café Cubano – A vibrant and joyful opening from Torres’ Latin Grammy-winning album This Side of Paradise
• Let There Be Light – A musical call to triumph over oneself and illuminate the world from within
• Café Con Leche – A celebration of youth, energy, and cultural vitality
• Peace With Myself – A reflective meditation on the idea that world peace begins within
• Daybreak – Torres’ original composition performed at SUA’s inaugural entrance ceremony, returning 25 years later as a symbol of hope: “The darker the night, the nearer the dawn.”
• ’Till Forever – A heartfelt tribute honoring those we have lost, transforming remembrance into joy and purpose

Nestor Torres

Nestor Torres is a Latin Grammy Award–winning flautist, mentor, author, and peacebuilder whose career spans more than four decades of performance, composition, education, and cultural ambassadorship. With a discography of 18 recordings, multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, and two honorary doctorates recognizing his artistic and cultural contributions, Torres has established himself as a distinctive and influential voice in contemporary music.

Formally trained at the Mannes School of Music, Berklee College of Music, and the New England Conservatory, he combines a strong classical foundation with a dynamic, genre-crossing voice. His extensive collaborations with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tito Puente, Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, and Dave Matthews reflect a musical language that moves seamlessly from Cuban charanga and Latin jazz to classical, pop, and beyond.

Rooted in a deep sense of purpose, Torres views music as a vehicle for connection and transformation. Through his performances, educational work, and community engagement, he inspires audiences of all ages to see music as a bridge—uniting cultures, uplifting the human spirit, and advancing a more peaceful world.