Piraí Vaca

Who is Piraí Vaca?

Paraí Vaca is a noted Bolivian classical guitarist currently living in Mettmann, Germany. After winning a scholarship at the Institute of Art in Havana, Cuba he won first prize in guitar in 1989 and in 1994 was given the Best Interpretation of Cuban Music Award. He later moved to Europe where he has since performed many concerts and displays, but is based in Germany. Invited by the German guitarist, Hubert Käppel, he forms part of the FENIX International Guitar Quartet. Piraí has taken his guitar on concert tours to Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, the USA, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Luxembourg, England, France, China and India.

In recognition of his international career, he is one of the few Latin Americans to be granted the Fellowship of the Americas, awarded by the prestigious John F. Kennedy Arts Center whose headquarters is in Washington, D.C.. In his own country, he has been awarded the maximum award: The National Award for Music, awarded by the Association of Writers, Plastic Artists and Musicians.

Piraí is also the creator and director of the La Paz International Guitar Festival and Contest which brings together guitarists of the continent and the world in Bolivia.