Juan Cabrera is an exciting and multi-dimensional
harpist whose spirited music transcends the boundaries of traditional
Paraguayan folk harp with blended and infused percussion rhythms
of Latin and new age sounds. As a performer who caresses his
harp as an extension of his emotions, Juan Cabrera excludes musical
talent that permits him to elevate the sounds of his harp to
new and different levels, thus exposing his audience to new listening
pleasures.
Mr. Cabrera was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
and spent much of his early youth in Paraguay before he moved
with his family in 1971 to Bronx, New York. He learned to play
the Paraguayan harp at the very young age of 4 years old and
it was because of his early training and talent, that upon arriving
in New York at the age of 9, he was immediately enrolled at the
prestigious Julliard School of Music in the Preparatory division.
He gave his first concert at the age of 9 with a "solo performer"
for the United States Treasurer, Ramona Banuelos at the Waldorf
Astoria Hotel. He enrolled later at the Manhattan School of music
where he also studied the classical harp until the age of 17.
At the age of 12, he formed his group "Juancito & Tri Colores"
and the following year saw his first recorded 45-RPM recording
included "Moliendo Cafe" that won statewide reviews. Due to his
rare gift of talent and performance recording successes, he was
encouraged to apply to and was accepted at the age of 15 to the
Performing Arts High School, famous for the Broadway and television
show "Fame". His musical tenure there led to his second major
performance concert held at Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln
Center.
In his course of life and instruction, Juan
Cabrera considers his father as his strongest mentor as well
as his first teacher of the Paraguayan harp. It was his father
who strongly encouraged him to excel at the instrument that
would later lead him to performances in numerous New York clubs,
television shows, and promotional events. His very young experiences
in the music world led him to perform with such Latin music icons
as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, and Marcos Antonio Muniz who is considered
the Frank Sinatra of Latin Music performers. He also performed
with "Los Paranas" a widely known Paraguayan group.
It was in 1990 that Juan Cabrera left Los Paranas
and took part in forming the group, "Dejavu". With this group,
Juan Cabrera began experimenting with compositions of "new age
music" instrumentals on his harp and began to develop his own
unique sound. He now resides in San Antonio, TX and has ventured
on his own to compose several original pieces that combine traditional
and new age style influenced by various rhythm sounds. His unique
and unconventional compositions break barriers of what traditional
harp music has sounded like, thus making Juan Cabrera's Paraguayan
harp an exciting and unique musical experience.
