MARiANO & NENÉ ESCALONA

MARiANO is a drummer, percussionist, singer, and arranger from Caracas, Venezuela. He began his academic journey at thirteen, joining “El Sistema” where he studied classical percussion for six years. During this period, he performed in prestigious venues across Venezuela and was part of professional orchestras under the direction of world-renowned conductors like Gustavo Dudamel.

After graduating from high school in 2014, Mariano had the opportunity to move to New York City to study at the Boys & Girls Harbor Conservatory on a full scholarship. There, he concentrated on piano and Latin percussion. His time in New York City allowed him to perform in eminent venues such as The Plaza Hotel, Carnegie Hall, the Gramercy Theater, and El Museo del Barrio. Through connections made at The Harbor, he linked with Berklee City Music, which led him to attend their Five Week Summer Performance program in 2015 with a full scholarship.

Upon arriving at his dream school, Mariano fully embraced the opportunities presented by the program and auditioned for the undergraduate program. During the last week of the camp, he discovered he had won a scholarship to attend Berklee full-time.

In May of 2016, he began his studies at the prestigious music school in Boston. This has allowed him to grow tremendously as both a musician and a person. He has had the opportunity to connect with numerous students, faculty members, and artists, which has enabled him to perform in all of Berklee’s performance venues several times for various concerts.

During his time at Berklee, Mariano has become a very in-demand musician in both the Boston and New York areas, playing in students’ recitals, visiting artists’ masterclasses, recording sessions, and other projects and events outside the school.