About Ángela Varo.

    Ángela Varo Moreno is an Andalusian violinist and composer known for her unique fusion of flamenco and jazz, as well as her dedication to exploring themes of cultural identity, Andalusian roots, and Roma-Andalusian heritage through music. She earned a Master of Arts in Jazz Performance from the esteemed Berklee Global Jazz Institute, where she studied under full scholarships from the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation, SGAE, Fundación Caja Rural de Baena, and Berklee College of Music. Ángela also holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Contemporary Writing and Jazz Performance from Berklee, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Minor in Jazz Composition.

Ángela performs as part of the Grammy-nominated Global Jazz Messengers, led by acclaimed Panamanian pianist and composer Danilo Pérez. In her role as sidewomen , she has collaborated and shared the stage with renowned artists such as Brian Blade, Kris Davis, John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, and Terri Lyne Carrington, as well as flamenco legends Lole Montoya and Ángeles Toledano. Her work with Califato 3/4, an influential Andalusian electronic-flamenco fusion group, highlights her skills as both a violinist and arranger, blending traditional and modern elements of Andalusian music. Ángela is also a faculty member at Phillips Academy in Andover, where she teaches flamenco fusion, jazz violin, and contemporary ensemble courses among others.

Recent highlights of her career include her debut album, Dançâ del Aire (Dances of the Air), an artistic exploration of Andalusian and Roma migratory identities within a jazz framework, set to be released under Habitable Records. Her master’s thesis, Perpeñí, further delves into these themes, celebrating the cultural diversity of Roma music and heritage as they intersect with global jazz.

Ángela’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and diverse jazz landscape led to her affiliation with Berklee’s Jazz and Gender Justice Institute, where she actively engages in projects that promote equity and inclusivity in music. She was awarded the prestigious 2024 Liesenfeld-Global Jazz Endowed Grant and has received numerous accolades, including the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Scholarship (2020, 2021, 2022) and the AIE Jazz Instrumentalists Scholarship (2021).

Through her performances, compositions, and projects, Ángela continues to bridge worlds, blending her Andalusian heritage with modern jazz while advocating for music that transcends boundaries, connects communities, and advances social equity.