Claudia Medina
“Keep playing and never give up.” These are words Claudia Medina never forgot.
Medina’s mentor, Cynthia Mullis, offered this advice when Medina was 13. A Los Angeles-based saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, film/TV/media composer, producer, educator and entrepreneur, Medina is committed to playing and never giving up. It’s the message she’s disseminated throughout her compositions, education programs & artistic career.
An esteemed musician in her own right, Medina has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning artists including Paquito D’ Rivera, Berta Rojas, Susana Baca, Aida Cuevas, Oscar Stagnaro, Tia Fuller, Diego Torres, El Gran Combo, and opened for Juan Luis Guerra’s Boston concert in 2019. Medina’s been invited twice to perform with one of her inspirations, Peruvian music icon and Grammy Award-winning singer Eva Ayllon, in New York and Boston. Michael Jackson’s frequent collaborator Greg Phillinganes enlisted Medina to perform with him as part of his Berklee Masterclass. She’s also played on Cool Love by Los Amigos Invisibles under the direction of Grammy-winning producer Enrique Gonzalez Muller.
After seven years at the National Conservatory of Peru, Medina became the first female Peruvian instrumentalist to earn a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, she wasted no time involving herself in productions and recordings including producing and arranging the tracks for Berklee Revelations Records, leading her jazz quintet on a Peruvian tour that culminated in a July 4th performance at the U.S. embassy in Lima, and providing musical direction for the school’s sold-out Idolos Latinos shows.
Medina’s musical accomplishments have led her to international performances and honors, with history and culture from global cities inspiring her compositions. She was invited by the Ecuadorian government to play tenor saxophone as part of the Ricardo Palma University Symphony Band in 2008 to commemorate the 10th-year peace treaty between Peru and Ecuador. Medina accompanied the Libop Jazz Orchestra in Chile for the Festival de las Culturas in 2012. She developed relationships with the Dutch and German embassies in Peru and eventually headed musical direction for their special occasions and events. She’s also organized events and performed for the Peruvian embassy in Colombia, and Peruvian Consulates of Paterson, NJ and Boston, MA. She was recognized by the Paterson Consulate for her work as a Peruvian cultural ambassador in 2016.
Medina’s awards and special recognitions are numerous, including a TUMI USA award and the Inspirational Woman Award for Outstanding Artists from Latina Center MARIA. Semana Hispana magazine awarded Medina for her dedication to sharing Latino and Peruvian music. The Boston Foundation presented Medina with a grant for emerging artists in 2020 to create her debut album, which she’s currently writing and producing.
Medina draws inspiration from festejo, salsa, world traditional music, blues, funk, as well as jazz. She melds her influences together to create an effortless blend exemplifying sophistication and passion that's uniquely her own. Medina has helmed sold-out shows with Claudia Medina’s Peruvian Project in Peru, Colombia, Boston, Minnesota and New York. Other stages graced by Medina include concerts by the Women’s Musician Network, the Latin Vive Festival, and the Berklee International Folk Festival. Drawing inspiration from musicians including Chabuca Granda, Julio Mori and Celia Cruz, as well as producer Quincy Jones and activist Malala Yousafzai, Medina’s music creates a transformative and immersive sensory experience that brings listeners on a global journey through the Andes to Latinoamerica to New York.
Medina is equally passionate about storytelling through the fusion of film and music. Laura Sánchez’s flamenco-focused short film After Dark features Medina’s composition, sound design, and mixing. After Dark was featured internationally by the IndieX Film Festival, Venice Short Film Festival, and European Short Film Festival, among others. House Call and Open Mic, both by Vincent Rosas, also showcase Medina’s composition and sound design. Medina’s collaboration with Mexican company Ineditia Records led her to produce music for films including Cancelados and Central de Musica.
On stages, in theaters and showcases, Medina shines as a performer, arranger and director. Her musical director credits include programs such as the Iberoamerican Film Festival and Idolos Latinos. The Preludio Cultural Association named Medina the first winds chair, where she performed in productions of “Déjame Que Te Cuente,” “El Musical 2015,” and “Sweet Charity” at the prestigious Teatro Municipal de Lima. She also arranged performances for Aida Cuevas and the Mexican Consulate’s “5 De Mayo” show in Boston honoring Mexican Grammy Award-winning artist Armando Manzanero.
Medina’s partnership with Pisco Madre led to her producing the “De Pisco Madre” jingle and becoming a brand ambassador for the internationally awarded company. Medina managed the production & arrangement of the theme, garnering media attention across Peru. Her production & arrangements can also be heard on Yubarta by Mexican artist Sofía Élan, whose tracks were featured on playlists curated by OneRPM.
Medina is pushing the limits of what is possible when we accept ourselves wholly and share our unique gifts with the world. “I believe my story can inspire others, particularly young people who may not see individuals like them on TV or in the media,” Medina affirms.
Medina seeks to inspire young musicians and help them realize their gifts through education and access to music programs. The US-organized International Week Conference hosted Medina’s music masterclass in 2017 at the University of Mary in North Dakota. Additionally, Medina has taught masterclasses at Berklee, EMMAT, University of Colombia, Universidad Nacional de Musica in Peru, USIL University, Margarita Muniz Academy, and Newton High School, among many others. She was also named 2022-2023 Lead Teaching Artist by Minnesota Jazz Education.
This drive inspired Medina to launch From Peru to the World - her initiative focused on bringing music education to younger generations in underserved communities, as well as informing audiences about Peruvian music and traditions. Medina has produced several projects through From Peru to the World including “National Anthem of Peru in Quechua”, “El Guaranguito”, and “Avenida Javier Prado.” The initiative’s most recent project, “Chabuca Granda International Tribute,” garnered international media attention and Peruvian publicity alike.
“Change can start from where you are, no matter how small, as positively impacting even one person's life is significant,” Medina says of her philosophy. Spreading the enthusiasm and theory behind music is Medina’s way of inspiring youth the same way she felt inspired as a teenager.
Claudia Medina truly embodies the spirit of keep playing, keep progressing and never give up.
Claudia Medina is partnered with:
Cloudvocal Wireless Microphones
FiR Audio In-Ear Monitors
