Authority control databases
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Donald Vega | |
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| Birth name | Donald Vega Gutierrez |
| Born | July 23, 1974 Masaya, Nicaragua |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Website | www |
Donald Vega is a Nicaraguan-born American jazz pianist and music composer.
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 at Crenshaw High School. He is an alumnus of the Colburn School of the Performing Arts, University of Southern California, Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School. He is currently a professor at the Juilliard School, living in New York City.[3]
Some of his competitive winnings include The Los Angeles Music Center's Spotlight Award in 1991, 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.