Jackeline
Rago is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer
and educator who specializes in Venezuelan Folk-Music as well
as music from other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Born
in Caracas, Venezuela, Jackeline began playing music
at the age of four. Prior to moving to the United States, she
spent years studying the Folk-Venezuelan “Cuatro” (national
string instrument) and mandolin at the “Manuel Antonio
Carreño Primary School” under the tutelage of
Venezuelan folklorist Angel Guanipa. During her teenage years, she completed studies in music theory and harmony
at the “Escuela de Musica Prudencio Esaa” and courses in classical
mandolin at “The Caracas Philarmonic Orchestra Conservatory” under
maestro Ivan Adler. While in Venezuela, Jackeline also pursued studies
in Afro-Venezuelan percussion under folklorists Hector Pacheco
and Alexander Livinalli from the “Fundacion Bigott” in
Caracas. In 1989, Jackeline graduated with a B.A.
from the Music & Arts Institute of San Francisco, CA, majoring
in classical mandolin. Presently, she resides in the Bay Area which has been her home base for the past 20 years. In addition to her Cuatro and mandolin
expertise, Rago is an accomplished percussionist and vocalist.
Jackeline Rago is the artistic and
musical director of the "Venezuelan Music Project" (Venezuelan Folk
music, ) and a founding member
of the"VNote Ensemble" (formerly The Snake Trio, ), bands which she travels
and performs with in an ongoing basis. She was also a founding
member of “Altazor” (Nueva Canción ensemble),” Wild
Mango” (world beat music), “Keith Terry & Crosspulse” (world
percussion) and “Trio Altamira” (contemporary Latin
American music).
Jackeline Rago has been a guest artist on recordings
and performances by prominent artists such as John Santos
and the Machete Ensemble, Andy Narell, Mike Marshall, Holly Near,
Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, Isay Barnwell
(Sweet Honey in the Rock), Marco Granados (Venezuelan flutist),
Aquiles Báez (Venezuelan guitarist), Alexander Livinalli
(Venezuelan percussionist), Rebeca Mauleon, Omar Sosa, the Oakland
Youth Chorus, various Windam Hill recording artists and many
other musicians and ensembles within the U.S. and Venezuela.
Just recently, Rago received the “Award of Excellence in Music“ given by the Mission Cultural Center for the Latino Arts in its 30th Anniversary, in San Francisco, CA. Additionally, Jackeline is a recipient of awards and grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, California Arts Council, Meet the Composer/Readers Digest Commissioning Program, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Foundation and AIM (Adventures in Music program sponsored by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra). Furthermore, Rago was an Artist in Residence of the State of California from 1989 to 2001.
Jackeline
Rago has performed nationally and internationally for over
20 years showcasing the music of Latin America with an emphasis
in Venezuelan Folk-Music.
To download Jackeline Rago's professional resume, please click .
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