Vega is among 171 winners, and 1 of only 10 composers, to receive the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation 2023 Fellowship.
On April 5, 2023, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation announced the winners of this year’s Guggenheim Fellowship. Donald Vega was named a fellow in the Creative Arts category for composition.
“...an exceptionally articulate pianist... Vega's single most distinctive characteristic is his romantic lyricism." —JazzTimes
The award provides Vega with support to complete his newest recording project, As I Travel. The project depicts poignant moments in the personal journey of Donald Vega beginning from his hometown in Masaya, Nicaragua through his worldwide travels performing as an established artist. Mr. Vega illustrates the emotional journey of leaving his home country due to civil war and entering America as an undocumented immigrant, later receiving political asylum, with a mix of original compositions that speak to the American immigrant experience as he lived it. The second half of the album is a joyful exploration of Mr. Vega’s move to NYC, an ultimate stepping stone leading to worldwide performances.
Donald Vega was trained classically in piano in his native Nicaragua. He emigrated to the United States at age 14 and found a musical home with the Colburn School of Performing Arts (CSPA) in Los Angeles. Vega began learning the language of jazz from mentor Billy Higgins at The World Stage, then later with bassist John Clayton at the University of Southern California. He went on to graduate from Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School where he studied with piano great Kenny Barron. Vega currently performs internationally as the pianist for world renowned bassist Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio with whom he has recorded several albums. Mr. Vega is also a faculty member at The Juilliard School and Hofstra University and sits on the board of BackCountry Jazz, a non-profit organization which provides music education programs and performances to underprivileged youth.
Along the way, he won the LA Jazz Society’s New Talent Award, The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 2010, and Downbeat’s Student Music Award for 2007 best Jazz Soloist and has had his compositions highlighted in JAZZIZ.
“Being named a Guggenheim Fellow is such an honor,” says Vega. “I’m grateful for the opportunity this gives me to complete As I Travels and share my story. My hope is, of course, that listeners enjoy the music. But more than that, I hope this project gives people the space and permission to explore and wonder about the American immigrant experience, in all its different forms.”
“...an exceptionally articulate pianist... Vega's single most distinctive characteristic is his romantic lyricism." —JazzTimes
The award provides Vega with support to complete his newest recording project, As I Travel. The project depicts poignant moments in the personal journey of Donald Vega beginning from his hometown in Masaya, Nicaragua through his worldwide travels performing as an established artist. Mr. Vega illustrates the emotional journey of leaving his home country due to civil war and entering America as an undocumented immigrant, later receiving political asylum, with a mix of original compositions that speak to the American immigrant experience as he lived it. The second half of the album is a joyful exploration of Mr. Vega’s move to NYC, an ultimate stepping stone leading to worldwide performances.
Donald Vega was trained classically in piano in his native Nicaragua. He emigrated to the United States at age 14 and found a musical home with the Colburn School of Performing Arts (CSPA) in Los Angeles. Vega began learning the language of jazz from mentor Billy Higgins at The World Stage, then later with bassist John Clayton at the University of Southern California. He went on to graduate from Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School where he studied with piano great Kenny Barron. Vega currently performs internationally as the pianist for world renowned bassist Ron Carter’s Golden Striker Trio with whom he has recorded several albums. Mr. Vega is also a faculty member at The Juilliard School and Hofstra University and sits on the board of BackCountry Jazz, a non-profit organization which provides music education programs and performances to underprivileged youth.
Along the way, he won the LA Jazz Society’s New Talent Award, The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 2010, and Downbeat’s Student Music Award for 2007 best Jazz Soloist and has had his compositions highlighted in JAZZIZ.
“Being named a Guggenheim Fellow is such an honor,” says Vega. “I’m grateful for the opportunity this gives me to complete As I Travels and share my story. My hope is, of course, that listeners enjoy the music. But more than that, I hope this project gives people the space and permission to explore and wonder about the American immigrant experience, in all its different forms.”
