“a percussion colourist of great distinction… leans heavily on his aptitude for, and particular genius for counterpoint and most of important of all – his understanding of instrumental timbre…” –Raul Da Gama, Latin Jazz Network 2018

Hailing from Venezuelan Andes, Fran Vielma is a critically acclaimed and award-winning multi-percussionist, composer, and educator. His continuous research on Pan-American rhythms and beyond is integrated with his attraction to concert music and the freedom of jazz.

He recently premiered his suite Common Grounds at SFJAZZ commissioned by the prestigious Chamber Music America – New Jazz Works and has been a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow since 2019. Additionally, has been a Jazz Road Tour Grantee by South Arts. His album Inesperado, was part of a catalog for the label Cacao Music along with renown artists such as Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Jose Quintana “Changuito,” and Negroni’s trio among others.

Vielma has been touring the continent with his star-studded Venezuelan Jazz Collective since fall 2019. Tendencias, the debut album of the collective, includes Vielma’s original works and arrangements featuring jazz luminaries Miguel Zenon, Michael Rodriguez, and Luis Perdomo. The album was included in the Best of 2018 lists by Downbeat (4 stars), Latin Jazz Net (4 stars), and NYC Jazz Record.

His versatility as performer of different genres has involved him in concerts, recordings, tours, and festivals around the world with artists such as John Medeski, George Garzone, Paul Winter, Bob Moses, Simon Phillips, Antonio Sanchez, Alex Norris, Sean Jones, Randy Brecker, Troy Roberts, Gary Thomas, Marshall Gilkes, Cesar Orozco, NEC Jazz Ambassadors, US Army Blues Band, Josanne Francis, and Luis Enrique to name a few.

Vielma is currently producing the debut album of his Jazz Orchestra entitled Pan-American Modernism featuring world-class players of today’s jazz scene and directs the Hidden Treasure Music Workshop that holds several hand-percussion, composition, and world music concert-lectures around the United States. Furthermore, he organized the I International Jazz Seminar at University of Andes, Venezuela in 2015.

He serves as an adjunct faculty of the world-class Jazz Department at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and has been adjunct faculty at Salem State University’s Music Department in Massachusetts, as well as artist resident at Shenandoah Conservatory – National Jazz Workshop, Baltimore School of Arts, West Virginia University, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Florida University, and Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra among others.

Fran Vielma holds a M.M. in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory and a B.M. with a minor in Jazz Theory from Berklee College of Music. Before transferring to the latter awarded by the North American Scholarship in 2010, was an undergrad senior at the Arts University of Venezuela (UNEARTE) majoring in composition.

Vielma endorses Meinl Percussion, Vater Drums Sticks, Istanbul Mehmet Cymbals, and Africatedra Venezuelan Percussion.