BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Carlomagno Araya was born in San José, Costa Rica (1969). At a very young age, he began formal musical training in classical percussion at "Conservatorio de Castella," starting his professional career as a drummer at eighteen.
Carlomagno attended "The Berklee College of Music Summer Program" for two consecutive years (1990-1991), and soon after, he made Miami his next home. There, he was awarded several full scholarships to study music at "Miami Dade Community College South Campus" and at the prestigious "Frost School of Music" at the University of Miami, where he earned his B.A. (2001), M.A. (2008) and D.M.A. (2022) in Jazz Studies, all these while developing a very active local and international professional career.
Carlomagno is recognized for his versatility as a player and musician. As a producer, session, and touring musician, he has worked on recording projects and live performances of the most diverse nature. This is reflected in the extensive list of great artists he has worked with, which includes names such as Rubén Blades, Ilan Chester, Engelbert Humperdinck, Claudia Acuña, Tania Libertad, Alejandra Guzmán, Néstor Torres, Paquito D` Rivera, Víctor Mendoza, Roberto Perera, Willy Chirino, Cachao, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Daniella Mercury, Boca Livre, Alejandro Lerner, Armando Manzanero, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Dudu Fisher, Toquiño, Federico Britos, Bebu Silvetti, Lokua Kanza, Yasmil Marrufo, Francisco Céspedes, Braulio, Richard Bona, Felix Pastorius, Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Ed Calle, Eddie Gómez, Boston Brass, Bob Mintzer, Hendrik Meurkens, León Gieco, Gilberto Santa Rosa, José Luis Rodríguez "El puma" and many others. Carlomagno's work can be heard on albums that have won Grammy, multiple Latin Grammy awards, and several Grammy nominations.
Carlo is currently the conductor of the Award Winning "CCCN Jazz Orchestra" of the "Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano." His conducting work led to this ensemble winning first place at the prestigious "Next Generation Jazz Competition 2019" in the "College Division Big Band Category" and placed the band as the first international group to accomplish this in the 49 years of the competition's existence.
In 2019 Carlomagno was recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the 25 most creative personalities within the Central American region. In the same year, the government of Costa Rica awarded him the "Premio Nacional de Música Carlos Enrique Vargas en Dirección Musical," the most prestigious award given to an artist in his native country.
He has made an essential pedagogical contribution as a guest artist and clinician, sharing his musical knowledge and philosophies with music students in the United States, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, and Costa Rica. In addition to establish his family in Costa Rica and keeping a busy schedule as a performer and producer, Carlomagno is currently a professor at the "Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica" where he contributes to developing jazz education in his homeland.
