Tony Madruga

Antonio Madruga was born on July 2, 1994 in Pembroke Pines, Florida to parents Omar Madruga, a Cuban immigrant who came to the U.S. at the age of 10, and Cora Bencomo-Madruga, a descendant of Cuban parents who grew up in Southern Florida. Antonio, or “Tony” as he is known by many, has grown up in a home environment where music is appreciated. His father played the trumpet during his youth and is jazz enthusiast.

Antonio Madruga was born on July 2, 1994 in Pembroke Pines, Florida to parents Omar Madruga, a Cuban immigrant who came to the U.S. at the age of 10, and Cora Bencomo-Madruga, a descendant of Cuban parents who grew up in Southern Florida. Antonio, or “Tony” as he is known by many, has grown up in a home environment where music is appreciated. His father played the trumpet during his youth and is jazz enthusiast. His mother, who does not have a musical background, also appreciates music and exposed Tony to Classical, Jazz and Rhythm & Blues by placing headphones on her abdomen for many hours a day before Tony was born. From age three, Tony began to demonstrate a keen ear for music and began formal piano lessons at age five. At age six, he began to attend the Keyboard for Kids program at the University of Miami. By the age of eight, Tony was earning awards in local talent events. He also started performing in many different public venues such as Heidi’s Jazz Club, the Cocoa Beach Jazz Festival.

In the latter part of 2004, Tony had the good fortune to meet Giselle Brodsky, the Artistic Director and Founder of the Miami International Piano Festival and Founder of the Patrons of Exceptional Artists. Since then she has been teaching him the Taubman approach which has made a marked difference in Tony’s performance ability and style. To her credit, Tony has also gained a greater appreciation of Classical music and looks forward to participating in musical events under her direction.
Giselle Brodsky also introduced Tony to the internationally recognized pianist/conductor William Noll. Maestro Noll a virtuoso in both classical and Jazz genres and has graciously being teaching Tony. These opportunities are providing a solid well rounded music foundation. He is now a full-time student at the New World School of Arts in Miami.

In 2005, Tony made his first appearance at the Miami International Piano Festival as part of William Noll’s lecture on “The Art of Solo Jazz.” In July of 2005, Tony performed at the Miami International Piano Festival in Lecce, Italy. He participated in a Master Class on July 23, 2005 at the Golandsky Institute Symposium in Princeton, NJ and later that evening he was invited to perform with Jazz pianist Danilo Perez. He was featured in “JAZZIZ” Magazine in October 2005. He made his solo debut for the Miami International Piano Festival at the Lincoln Theater, Miami Beach in May of 2006. He was invited to be a guest performer at Bill Charlap’s Master Class at the 92Y Jazz Festival in Manhattan in July 2006. He was featured in HBO’s Family Special entitled “The Music in Me.”

In January, 2006, he was a guest of Danilo Perez at the Panamanian Jazz Festival. In Panama he was a huge success which resulted in an invitation, by owner James Browne, to perform with his trio at one of New York’s top Jazz club Sweet Rhythm. As a result of his overwhelming reception he was asked to perform a second night. That night the world renowned Jazz/Classical artist Paquito D’Rivera made a guest appearance with Tony which resulted in several collaborations. In June 2007 Tony was awarded the prestigious Downbeat Magazine student award for outstanding classical solo performance and outstanding jazz performance.

In September, 2007, Tony was invited to perform at the Duke Ellington Jazz festival in Washington D.C., where he was a special guest of Paquito D’Rivera at the Voice of America tribute. On December 8th, 2007 Paquito invited Tony to perform at Carnegie Hall to be part of a tribute for him sponsored by the Cuban Cultural Center of NY. In January of 2008 he appeared at the Punta Este Jazz Festival in Uruguay with Paquito D’Rivera and with his trio. On February 2, 2008 he was a special guest of Paquito D’Rivera at the Gusman Hall in Miami. In June 2008 he was a guest of Paquito D’Rivera and Arturo O’Farill at Birdland. In August 2008 Tony made a debut appearance at the Van Dyke Café with his quartet in South Beach. He appeared for 4 nights at the Dizzy Coca Cola Club in NYC in December, 2008. Tony is greatly influenced by Jazz Greats such as Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Gene Harris, Danilo Perez, Bill Charlap, Bill Evans Tommy Flanagan, Bebo and Chucho Valdez, Charlie Parker, Paquito D’Rivera, Dizzy Gillespie, Ira Sullivan, Tito Puente and many more. However, with his newfound passion for Classical music, the works of Liszt, Chopin, Bach, Brahms and Lecuona are among his favorite. His favorite Cuban Classical pianists are Jorge Luis Prats, Jorge Bolet and Ernesto Lecuona.

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6/10/09: Tony Madruga

At age 14, jazz pianist Tony Madruga has already accompanied phenomenal artists such as Danilo Perez and Paquito D’Rivera, been featured in JAZZIZ Magazine, and toured all over the world.

Tony Madruga

At age 14, jazz pianist Tony Madruga has already accompanied phenomenal artists such as Danilo Perez and Paquito D’Rivera, been featured in JAZZIZ Magazine, and toured all over the world.

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