Mariano Escalona
Mariano Escalona
Image courtesy of the artist
Mariano Escalona is a drummer, percussionist, singer, and arranger from Caracas, Venezuela. He started his academic studies when he was 13 at El Sistema, where he studied classical percussion for six years. He has performed in many prestigious halls in Venezuela, and was part of professional orchestras directed by world-famous conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
After attending the Five-Week Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music in 2015, Escalona auditioned for the undergraduate program, earning a scholarship. During his time at the college, he has become an in-demand musician in Boston and New York City, allowing him to play in students’ recitals, visiting artists’ master classes, recording sessions, and other projects and events outside the school.