Juan Diego Villalobos

Latin Grammy Award winner Juan Diego Villalobos is a versatile musician who has excelled in different areas of music such as Venezuelan folkloric music, classical percussion, jazz, and Afro-Venezuelan music; making him one of the most sought-after vibraphone players in New York.​ His musical journey started at a young age, performing with his family in different festivals around Mexico and Venezuela, which initiated him in the Afro-Venezuelan culture. Later on, he studied at the Simon Bolivar Music Conservatory in Caracas and became part of “El Sistema” by joining the Teresa Carreño Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela; where he performed across Europe, Asia and the US as a classical percussionist, sharing the stage with Christian Vazquez, Makoto Ozone and the acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Villalobos continued his jazz studies under the tutelage of Stefon Harris and Joe Locke, obtaining a full scholarship to study jazz vibraphone at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music (2018 - 2022). During this time, he appeared at distinguished venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Harlem Stage, Smalls Jazz Club and Birdland; as a bandleader and sideman, performing alongside Paquito D’Rivera, Ben Wendel, Arturo O’Farrill, Jeremy Pelt, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, Andy Narell, John Beasley, among others.​