Yilian Cañizares

Yilian Cañizares is one of the most captivating violinists, singers, and composers on today’s contemporary music scene. Without ever betraying her roots, she masterfully fuses jazz, classical music, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, all carried by a voice that seems to come from another world. Few artists, whether on stage or in the studio, possess the level of virtuosity, charisma, and versatility that defines Yilian—seamlessly blending the technical rigor of classical violin, the expressive freedom of jazz, and the rich sonic palette of her native Havana, Cuba. Her love for music emerged at an early age. At just four years old, she began studying violin and piano, and by fourteen, she earned a scholarship to study in Caracas. In 2000, she moved to Fribourg, Switzerland, to continue her training at the conservatory. Later in Lausanne, she collaborated with various ensembles and founded the quartet Ochumare, with which she won at the Montreux Jazz Festival Competition in 2008. Since then, her career has been in continuous ascent.