Julio is now based in Europe. 

Born In Venezuela and drawing upon the musical Influences of South America, his career lead him to study drums and percussion, which remain his principal instruments. His passion is Latin-American music and its origins, integrating these different styles with those of contemporary music.

Julio spent more than a decade studying Venezuelan, Colombian, Puerto Rican and Cuban percussion with accomplished artists Miguel "Miguito" Urbina, Jhonny Rudas, Orlando Poleo as well as drums & classic percussion experts Benjamin Carriel and Jose "Cheo" Cardenas. He also initiated the first-ever classic-contemporary percussion fusion experience at the Miguel A. Espinel music school in Venezuela.

He has performed with musicians such as Kenny Wheeler, Josh Roseman, Phil Collins, Manu Dibango, Michael Jones, Nippi Noya, Luis Conte, Orlando  Poleo, Frank “Matador” Oropesa (Septeto Nacional), Miguel Angel Mesa Cruz y los Aspirina (Guanabacoa), Carlo Rizzo and Ravi Shankar Mishra.

Other projects include performing with the Geneva Downtown Orchestra, the AMR Big Band, ADEM Multicultural Percussion Ensemble, the Venezuela Youth Symphonic Orchestra, the “Simon Bolivar” Symphonic Orchestra, Maracaibo Symphonic Orchestra, and the Divonne Latin Orchestra as musical director.

Venezuelan drummer-percussionist

Julio has played for theatre projects such as “Medea in Spain” & “Les Papiers de L’Amour” (Compagnie Apsara), “Las Décimas” (Compagnie Spirale), “Woyzeck” (Compagnie Angledange), dance spectacles with Ecole Atelier Rudra Béjart and many festivals: Montreux Jazz, Bex Rock, Balelec, Caliente Festival, Mawâzine Festival (Morroco)...

His work also entails songwriting as well as performance and production using advanced electronics in partnership with Apple Computer (Switzerland). He’s also a jury member of Apple’s European “Creative Talent Contest”  He has been recognised as Apple ADP (Apple Distinguished Professional) for Logic Studio (music production application).

Julio's current projects include an active role as partner, producer and sound engineer at the TPN recording studio near Geneva, Switzerland.

He is also active in teaching music, and giving master classes at the Conservatoire de Lausanne and the Conservatoire Populaire de Genève.

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