Primary Instrument: Piano
Ania Paz, pianist and composer, is known for her modern and driving sound, impregnated by a new fusion of Afro-Peruvian and Caribbean styles, within the Jazz language. She was born in Lima, Peru, where she started studying music at the age of 4, and wrote her first composition at the age of 6. Her passion for music took her to different countries and musical cultures, studying classical music as well as jazz first in Germany, and then in the US, where she got her Masters Degree. She is actually a resident of the Dominican Republic. She is the leader of the Ania Paz Jazz Ensamble, which successfully performed at the XVI Festival Internacional Jazz en Lima, at the Festival Cultural Hermanas Mirabal in Salcedo, and opened for Gato Barbieri in Santo Domingo. Ania Paz also performed at several jazz festivals and concerts, such as the TCI Jazz Festival in San Jos鬠California; the Colonial Jazz Festival in Santo Domingo; the Festival Jazz Astwood; as well as at jazz clubs, Theatre Halls and main TV shows in the Dominican Republic, Peru, Germany, Spain and the US, such as Cinemacafe (Santo Domingo), Jazz Zone (Lima), Danny's Skylight Room, Many's Place and St Peter Church (New York). As a Songwriter, she recently won with “Hoy te amo” the Festival Claro Song Competition in Lima, Peru. She participated as a composer and pianist, and the song was interpreted by singer Daniela Ghersi. As a composer, she won with her symphonic work “San Francisco” the Jose Reyes Award in Santo Domingo, which will be performed by the Santo Domingo Symphony; she won with her Jazz Ballad “Serenidad” the jazz composition competition in Casa de Teatro - where Michael Camilo and Juan Luis Guerra were part of the jury -; received an award at the USA Songwriting Competition with “Inspiracion Mia” - in the Latin category -; and received a letter from the historical Monuments? Director in Santo Domingo, mentioning that her compositions are a strong cultural contribution to the Dominican People. In addition, her composition “Acoso” was selected to be included in the new Jazz Compilation produced by TDV Media & Entertainment. Her compositions go from small instrumentations and songs, to Big Band orchestrations and pieces for Symphonic Orchestra. Ania Paz has released 4 CDs called Festejo Dominicano, Ania Paz Jazz Ensamble, Una mujer feliz and Meta Arara, plus a DVD, featuring its live concert at the XVI Festival Internacional Jazz en Lima 2006. Her CDs are currently played on Radio Stations in the US, Belgium, England, the Dominican Republic, Guadaloupe, Panama, Puerto Rico and Peru. As an educator, she has been teaching and presenting Master Classes at Universities and Music Institutions in Germany, the US and the Dominican Republic; she created the curricula for the Departamento Folclo del Conservatorio Nacional de M? in Santo Domingo and for Jazzymas; and she wrote several jazz and modern styles methods. In addition, she participated at the second international convention of the Afro-Latin and American Research Association, presenting a conference about the development of African rhythms in different areas of America. As a result she received recognition for extraordinary support from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Ania recently participated playing cajon with 634 cajoneros at the I Festival Internacional de Cajon in Lima, Peru.
Awards:
Song Composition Prize with "Hoy te amo" at Festival Claro, Lima, Peru Symphonic Composition Prize Jose Reyes from the Cultural Department of the Dominican Republic with "San Francisco" Jazz Composition Prize with "Serenidad" at Casa de Teatro, Santo Domingo, where Michael Camilo and Juan Luis Guerra were part of the Jury“Pianist and composer Ania Paz won the Song Composition Prize at the Festival Claro in Lima, Peru, with her original Song “Hoy te amo”. 3318 songs were submitted to this competition, and the jury included well-known artists and Grammy award winners such as Gianmarco and Susana Baca. This major event took place at the theatre called Parque de la Exposición in Lima, with an audience of 4500 people. Groups such as Calle 13 and La 5ta estación participated at this Festival. Ania Paz participated as a pianist and composer, with singer Daniela Ghersi, who interpreted the song extraordinarily. Daniela is also a composer and will release her “Cielo Abierto” CD with original songs. In addition, Ania Paz participated at the I Festival Internacional de Cajón at the Centro Cultural de España in Lima, where she played cajon with 634 cajon players”. Noticias Clave, from Dominican Republic
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
Santo Domingo
