Salem State Alumni Relations | Keeping the Beat: Jabari Tovar ’16 on Music, Mentorship and Community
Posted on: June 15, 2026
When Jabari Tovar ’16 (Salem high School Class of 2012) enrolled at Salem State University, he was focused on becoming a stronger musician, not teaching. A lifelong Salem resident, he chose the university for its vibrant, familiar community.
“I had no intention of pursuing music education,” he says. As a music student, Tovar concentrated on developing his skills as a percussionist. Much of his pre-college experience was rooted in drumline performance, but through applied percussion lessons with Abraham Finch in the music and dance department and the Salem State Percussion Ensemble, his musicianship expanded.
