“Trumpetist Nico Bejarano had the hardest job of the evening...his playing was uniformly tender and strong. ”
“Nico Bejarano’s solo performance was both warm and clear, finding its footing deep within the explorer’s heart who knows the paradoxical comfort of home.”
Nicolás is a Colombian trumpet player currently based in Los Angeles, California. He is a contemporary and new-music specialist and advocate; with experience and knowledge of the chamber, solo and orchestral trumpet literature. He has worked with innovative companies including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Wild Up, The Industry Productions, the Ojai Music Festival Orchestra, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Monday Evening Concerts’ ECHOI Ensemble, American Youth Symphony, and the Martha Graham Dance Company.
His passion for contemporary music has led him landed him on projects for composers such as LaMonte Young, John Adams, David Rosenboom (REDCAT), Gabriella Smith, Ellen Reid, Chris Bowers, Nico Muhly, and Frederic Rzewsky to name a few. He also hosts the Arts Salon Podcast, where he interviews thought leaders in the music scene.
Bejarano owes most of his musical upbringing to trumpet greats: Edward Carroll, Gabriele Cassone and Russell Devuyst. Additionally he has had the pleasure of participating in classes with Thomas Stevens, Håkan Hardenberger, Markus Stockhausen, Marco Blaauw, Clément Saunier, John Wallace, Stephen Burns, Mark Gould, Brian McWhorter, Peter Evans, Nate Wooley, and James Thompson amongst others. Other influential mentors include persian music greats Pirayeh Pourafar and Houman Pourmehdi; and trumpet virtuoso Daniel Rosenboom.
Bejarano has presented masterclasses at the National University of Colombia and Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá for both trumpet players and composers, and holds a BMUS from McGill University's Schulich School of Music and an MFA from the Herb Alpert School of Music at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
As an arts administrator Mr. Bejarano has served as the Director of Development at Long Beach Opera, and is currently occupying the same role at American Youth Symphony. Mr. Bejarano also proudly serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Advanced Musical Studies/Chosen Vale.