Rique Pantoja

Rique Pantoja is a Contemporary and Jazz keyboard instructor in Biola's Conservatory of Music. He is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Aside from piano, Mr. Pantoja also plays guitar. He studied arranging and composition at the Berklee College of Music. Following his studies at Berklee, Mr. Pantoja spent two years playing professionally in Paris with jazz greats like Chet Baker.

Mr. Pantoja is highly regarded as a composer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and songwriter. He has performed and recorded with artists such as Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, Ernie Watts, Chet Baker, Lee Ritenour, Christopher Parkening, Abraham Laboriel, Helen Baylor, and Justo Almario, among others. He has also produced/recorded television themes, soundtracks, and songs for "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," "Santa Barbara," "Another World," Disney's "Jungle 2 Jungle" with Tim Allen, commercials for Coca Cola, Pepsi, Honda, Metro MTA, De Beers, Shell, Nissan, Toshiba, etc., and has won numerous awards.

Mr. Pantoja was music minister at Harvest San Gabriel Valley from 1997-2000. He currently serves on the worship team at Faith Community Church in West Covina. He has been active in ministry in many ways: as a cell group leader, teacher, keyboardist touring with Franklin Graham Crusades and Promise Keepers, and serving as a musical director for Maranatha Worship Leader Workshops.

Website: riquepantoja.com.