Born in August 17, 1995, in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, Juan Pablo showed a tremendous interest for music since early age, reason for which his parents decided to enroll him at the Tra La La School of Music for kids when he was just 2 years old. 

 

In 2000, Juan started taking formal music classes at the Antonio Jose Maria Valencia Conservatory of Fine Arts in Cali where he studied classical music for 11 years with emphasis on symphonic percussion. 

​

In 2006 he joined the Conservatory’s Percussion Band “Son Percussion Ensemble” under the tutelage of professors Hector Tascón and Gustavo Jordan. As a member of Son Percussion his main focus of study was on Symphonic Marimba and other mallet instruments, among them, the “Marimba de Chonta”, a typical instrument of the traditional music of the Pacific region of Colombia. 

​

With Son Percussion he traveled across Colombia participating in many cultural events such as the “Young Performers for the Bank of the Republic” and the “Series of Symphonic Concerts at the Luis Angel Arango Library in Bogotá”. He also participated at the “Tamborimba Festival in Beethoven’s Hall at the Antonio Jose Maria Conservatory” under the direction of master professor Laurent Vieuble. 

In 2011, as a member of Son Percussion, recorded their first album called “Huellas”, an extensive work showcasing pieces of the classical repertory as well as traditional songs adapted to classical rhythms.

​

In 2008, Juan and his late cousin, Daniel Esteban Montoya, formed the Salsa Band DesTello where he played keyboards, percussion, and vocals. In 2010, among many others, DesTello participated at the XII Salsa World Festival in Cali, a competition on which the band ended up on third place. 

 

In 2011 Juan is chosen to became a member of the “Youngsters Symphonic Orchestra of Valle del Cauca”, a symphonic orchestra integrated by 50 of the best students of classical music from several of the most recognized schools of music in Valle del Cauca. The orchestra performed on many music festival around several of the most importat Colombian cities, as well as in the third edition of the International Festival “La Via Dei Concert” touring through several European countries among them France, Spain and Italy performing in conjunction with musicians from conservatories of Trenton in Rome, Spain and Turkey. The orchestra performed in Europe under the direction of masters Julian Lombana and Sergio Bernal.

In 2012, Juan’s father is offered a job in New Jersey, and after considering the possibilities for Juan to pursue his professional studies there, the family decides to move to the United States. In New Jersey, Juan is enrolled in the Jonathan Dayton High School, to finish his last two years of High School. At the school, he joins the Wind Band and the Big Band playing the trombone. On his senior year he joins the Marching Band where he leads the Drum Line. There, he performed on the School Musicals 9 to 5, In the Heights and The Beaut & the Beast and after he graduated he is called by this High School to performe the Musical "In The heights". He also performed in many other Jazz festivals around the town he was living.  Upon graduation from Jonathan Dayton, Juan was granted the “Louis Armstrong Award” for his Excellency in music . 

 

In 2014, Juan applies to Berklee College of Music and is accepted and granted a 40% scholarship student double majoring on Performance and Contemporary writing and Production. At Berklee Juan Pablo has already had the chance to perform at events like the “Latin American Vive Music Fest 2016 & 2017”, Alex Achá meets Berklee, Pablo Ziegler meets Berklee, and the 2016 Berklee Gala, Divas Latinas, CWP Student's Concert , among other events, and has become a popular student among his classmates and teachers due to his performance skills and charismatic personality letting him play with many other bands in Latin and Jazz festivals around Boston