Diego Zapata

Violinist/Venezuela

Born in Carupano, Sucre State, Venezuela in 1993, Diego began his training as a musician when he was five years old. At ten he began musical studies in Caracas Simon Bolivar Conservatory with Professor Eddy Marcano and Efrain Lara; he continued at the School of Music Mozarteum Caracas, with teacher Richard Biaggini.

He was part of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, conducted by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and in concerts conducted by the Director of the Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle. 

He received bachelor degree in Juan N Corpas University, in Bogotá, Colombia, followed by an Artist Diploma and a Performance Certificate at the Richard Wagner Conservatory in Vienna and the University of Kansas, respectively. In 2021, Diego graduated from the University of Kansas where he was working on his Master’s degree with the violin professor David Colwell. Diego took part in numerous festivals including the seminar on advanced technical development of violin in Merida, 2007-2008, summer courses with  professor Yuval Yaron in Santa Barbara, California, and master classes with such violinists as Kristof Barati, and Daniel Austrich (iPalpiti alumnus). Diego has played several times with the National Symphony of Colombia and he was featured in the Documentary Film Foundation Orchestras of Venezuela “Tocar y Luchar.” This is his second season with iPalpiti.