Piraí Vaca
Piraí Vaca is a Bolivian guitarist. Washington Post had this to say of his performance: “.... he made an impact on the audience with his profound musicality and control ....”, and recently, the Rhein Zeitung newspaper in Germany commented: “.... and without fear of exaggerating, we could say that in Piraí Vaca we had, at the Mosel Music Festival, one of the most outstanding guitarists in the world....”
In recognition of his international career, he is one of the few Latin Americans to be granted the Fellowship of the Americas, awarded by the prestigious John F. Kennedy Arts Center in Washington. In his own country, he has received the National Award for Music, awarded by the Association of Writers, Plastic Artists and Musicians.
Piraí Vaca has been declared Most Outstanding Bolivian Living Abroad by the United Nations for Youth and World Class Bolivian by the Latin American Press Association and the Bolivian Association of Press Workers. He has received the Recognition for Artistic Endeavour and Bolivian Integration from the municipal governments of El Alto, La Paz, Potosí, and Montero, and the Gold Medal from the Municipal Government of Santa Cruz, awarded to illustrious citizens. He was also elected Outstanding Young Bolivian by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Invited by the legendary German guitarist Hubert Käppel, Vaca forms part of the FENIX International Guitar Quartet, recognised by the critics as one of the most important ensembles in the genre.
Born in Bolivia, Vaca studied with Jesús Ortega at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana, Cuba, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in music with a speciality in guitar and a Post-graduate degree in Renaissance Music, winning the prize for the most Outstanding Graduate of the Year. He continued his studies with Manuel Barrueco in the USA and, subsequently, with Hubert Käppel at the Superior Conservatory of Music in Cologne, Germany, the country in which he currently resides.
Piraí has taken his guitar on concert tours to Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Luxembourg, England, France, China, and India.
Sony Music in Bolivia, Highland Records in the USA, and Brasa in Europe have produced his records. Yoruba Chants, Indian Airs, and the DVD Concert have been released.
Piraí is also the creator and director of the La Paz International Guitar Festival and Contest, which brings together the most outstanding guitarists of the continent and the world in Bolivia.
Convinced that, by training only his hands, he would not go much further, Vaca includes in his daily routine Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Kung, and meditation to develop his body, mind, and spirit. It is his intention to overcome physical and mental barriers and to offer his hands a body and mind which are better trained to undertake the challenges that the interpretation of the guitar require and which, in his case, can only be overcome with integral development.