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Camila Cortina Bello is a Cuban-born pianist, composer, educator, and musicologist whose music is a reflection of her roots, her travels, and the stories she carries with her. Born in Havana in 1988, she grew up surrounded by the rich musical traditions of Cuba, later reimagining them through the lenses of jazz, classical, and world music. For Camila, fusion and crossover aren’t just artistic choices—they’re embedded in her very DNA. Her music is shaped by the memories of her homeland and the new realities she has encountered while living abroad.In Cuba, she shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Joaquín Betancourt, Robertico García, Emir Santa Cruz, and Mayquel González. She trained in classical piano at the Manuel Saumell and Amadeo Roldán Conservatories and earned a degree in musicology from the Higher Institute of Arts in 2010. Seeking new horizons, she moved to Singapore, where she performed as a pianist and music director across Asia while also composing for audiovisual projects rooted in Cuban culture.
Her journey then led her to Boston in 2018, where she was awarded the Berklee World Tour Full Tuition Scholarship. Over the next four years, she completed a dual major in Jazz Composition and Performance, followed by a Master’s in Contemporary Global Performance.
In 2023, Camila was selected as a Next Jazz Legacy Fellow, a New Music USA initiative supporting emerging women in jazz. Since then, she has performed alongside legendary artists like Paquito D’Rivera, Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Dianne Reeves. Her performances have taken her to stages at the Cape May Jazz Festival, DC Jazz Festival, Ecuador Jazz Festival, and Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta del Este (2024/25).
Camila’s most recent solo piano commission, Bravura, was premiered at the Barbican Centre (London, UK) in December 2024 by British pianist Dr. Samantha Ege. She also made an appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series with the Afro-Cuban band OKAN. In 2024, she was a finalist for the Cintas Foundation Brandon Fradd Fellowship in Music Composition.
Now based in New Jersey, Camila is an active performer in the New York music scene, continuing to push boundaries and tell stories through her music.
Camila Cortina, piano
Veronica Leahy, saxophone
Noam Tanzer, bass
Zack O'Farrill, drums
Edgar Martinez, percussion
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Le Chéile NYC, 837 W 181st St, New York, NY 10033-4438, United States, Fort Lee
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
