Donald Vega

Grammy®-nominated pianist, composer, and 2023 Guggenheim Fellow Donald Vega is known for his melodic storytelling, virtuosic touch, and deep roots in the jazz tradition. Born in Nicaragua and trained in both classical and jazz piano, Vega was mentored by icons including Billy Higgins, Kenny Barron, John Clayton, and Francisco Aguabella, and today performs worldwide as the pianist for legendary bassist Ron Carter. His acclaimed discography includes Tomorrows, Spiritual Nature (with Christian McBride and Lewis Nash), With Respect to Monty, and the Grammy®-nominated As I Travel, praised by DownBeat and All About Jazz for its vision and masterful compositions. A dedicated educator, Vega serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School and sits on the board of BackCountry Jazz--a non profit organization which provides music education programs to underprivileged youth. Vega continues to inspire audiences around the world through performances, recordings, and his evolving body of original works.