Awardee

Ivanna Cuesta is a 30-year old drummer and composer from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and based in Boston, USA. She graduated from the Conservatory of Music of Dominican Republic and currently from Berklee College of Music (Dual Major). Ivanna has been a part of important groups in the Dominican Republic such as Carijazz, Gustavo Rodríguez Trio, Javier Vargas and Atre, The Big Band of the Conservatory of Music, etc. She has also performed in numerous important events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, Dominican Jazz Festival, Soberano Awards and Santo Domingo Jazz Festival. In 2018, Ivanna started to be part of the Paiste Cymbals family.  

In 2019, she won first place in the “Hit like a Girl 2019” contest, where she performed in PASIC (Percussion Arts Society) 2019 in Indianapolis. Ivanna has performed/toured with artists such as Concha Buika, Kris Davis, Jane Bunett and Maqueque, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson, Leo Blanco, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Nando Michelin Quartet, Tia Fuller, Luisito Quintero, Sócrates García Big Band, Sona Jobarteh, etc. In addition, she has studied with Neal Smith, Terri Lyne Carrington, Francisco Mela, among others.  

Currently Ivanna has been working on her career as an independent composer creating music for film, radio, TV-show with the Canobie Films Company and Droid Mafia Label. 

“I’m really happy to be part of this amazing initiative that can change not just the music world, but also to be part of the Social Change that we are working for. I am looking for to learn and to prepare myself to make something significant with my music in my community.” – Ivanna

Apprenticeship: esperanza spalding

Creative Mentor: Wayne Shorter