| Donald Vega | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donald Vega Gutierrez |
| Born | July 23, 1974 |
| Origin | Masaya, Nicaragua |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupations | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Website | http://www.donaldvega.com |
Donald Vega is a Nicaraguan-born American jazz pianist and music composer.
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Vega was born in Masaya, Nicaragua, a town well known for its handicrafts. He was born with a severe cleft palate, for which he has had many surgeries to correct and save his hearing. He fled the country at the age of 15, arriving in Los Angeles in 1989.[1] In the late 1990s he was at risk of being returned to his native country as a consequence of the Immigration Reform Act of 1996. With the aid of friends and supporters, he is now a legal resident.[2]
Vega received his early education in Crenshaw High School. He is an alumnus of the University of Southern California (USC), located in Los Angeles, where he received his degree in Jazz studies.[1] He currently studies at the Juilliard School and lives in New York.[3]
Vega released his 9-track album, Tomorrows, on July 1, 2008. The album was Vega's first album as a leader and featured Maria Neckam on vocals, Lewis Nash on drums and David J. Grossman on bass.
Vega performs at local jazz clubs in the Los Angeles and New York City area.
Some of his competitive winnings include Down Beat's 2007 Jazz Student Soloist Award and 1st place at the 2008 Philips Jazz Piano Competition at the University of West Florida, as well as an original composition featured in the CD accompanying JAZZIZ's October 2008 Education Issue.