Fran Vielma

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About Me

Francisco (Fran) Vielma is a Venezuelan multi-percussionist, composer, arranger, and educator. In his compositions, he fuses Venezuelan rhythms with jazz elements, concert music, and beyond.

Francisco “Fran” Vielma born and raised in Mérida, Venezuela, a multicultural college town where arts are part of the daily life of its citizens. Encouraged by his mother Maritza Vielma, a music lover, he started in the musical world by singing, playing Venezuelan Cuatro, and taking core music courses at The Andes University Arts Center (CUDA). His drumming journey began as a teenager with Caribbean and orchestral percussion, which he developed in parallel at Youth Symphonic Orchestra – “El Sistema” and playing in local Salsa bands. He later became a member of “Kimbandú” – a research music ensemble that traveled around the country to study and document musical expressions of Venezuela. Before moving to Caracas early 2000’s, created “Nuevas Almas” World Jazz Ensamble along with drummer/composer Diego Maldonado to play their original compositions and arrangements. The ensemble put out the album “Inesperado” in 2009 under the label Cacao Music along with renown artists such as Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Jose Quintana “Changuito,” and Negroni’s trio among others. In Caracas, Fran kept a busy schedule performing, recording, and touring nationally and internationally with regarded jazz, salsa, pop, electronic, and traditional Venezuelan music artists. And became faculty at the renowned “Taller de Jazz Caracas,” where also performed duties as Percussion Chairperson. Additionally, was founding member of the music collective “Movida Acustica Urbana” (MAU) that released a live album in 2009 (MAU EN VIVO). He attended the Arts University (UNEARTE) for composition, and “Cátedra Libre de Percussion de Caracas” directed by Miguel Urbina and Jhony Rudas. Fran Vielma was awarded by a scholarship to finish his Bachelor’s in Performance and Jazz Theory at Berklee College of Music, and a Master’s in Jazz Studies at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. Vielma recently premiered his suite “Common Grounds” at SFJAZZ commissioned by the prestigious Chamber Music America - New Jazz Works and has been a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow since 2019. Additionally, has been a Jazz Road Tours Grantee by South Arts. Fran has been featured artist for the “Hispanic Heritage Celebration Concert” of the prestigious United States Army Blues Band, having performed his compositions and arrangements. He has toured around the continent with his star-studded Venezuelan Jazz Collective; “Tendencias,” his latest release, includes Vielma’s original works and arrangements featuring world-renowned Miguel Zenón, Michael Rodríguez, and Luis Perdomo. It was included in the Best of 2018 lists by Downbeat, Latin Jazz Network, & NYC Jazz Record. As and in-demand performer of different genres has involved him in concerts, recordings, tours, and festivals around the world with artists such as John Medeski, George Garzone, Paul Winter, Bob Moses, Simon Phillips, Antonio Sanchez, Randy Brecker, Gary Thomas, Marshall Gilkes, Cesar Orozco, NEC Jazz Ambassadors, US Army Blues Band, Josanne Francis, and Luis Enrique to name a few. Vielma is currently working on his large ensemble’s debut album – Pan-American Modernism, featuring Troy Roberts, Sean Jones, and Alex Norris among others. He serves as faculty of the world-class Jazz Department at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and has been adjunct faculty at the Music Department of Salem State University, MA as well as artist resident at Shenandoah Conservatory – National Jazz Workshop, Baltimore School of Arts, West Virginia University, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Florida University, and Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra among others. Fran Vielma endorses Meinl Percussion, Vater Drums Sticks, Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals, and Africatedra Venezuelan Percussion.