A protégé of Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of 12, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flügelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

He is one of the most dynamic performers of our time, and has been seen by millions at the Oscars, the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Music Awards.

Sandoval has been awarded 10 Grammy Awards, and been nominated 19 times. He has received six Billboard Music Awards and an Emmy Award, the latter for his composing work on the score of the HBO movie based on his life, For Love or Country, which starred Andy Garcia. In 2013, Sandoval was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sandoval was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere, whose explosive mixture of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music caused a sensation throughout the world. In 1981, he left Irakere to form his own band, which garnered praise from critics and audiences, and continues to do so.

Sandoval is also a renowned classical musician, performing regularly with leading symphony orchestras.His “Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra” can be heard on Arturo Sandoval: The Classical Album He has performed with the foremost orchestras in the world and recorded John Williams’ Trumpet Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra. His classical artistry has earned him respect and admiration from the most prestigious conductors, composers and symphony orchestras.

Sandoval’s versatility can be heard on recordings with Dizzy Gillespie, Josh Groban, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys, among many others. He has performed with John Williams with the Boston Pops, and at the Super Bowl with Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle.

His compositions can be heard in movies such as Havana, The Mambo Kings, 61 and Mr. Wrong, among others. He was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to compose music for the ballets Pepito’s Story and The Chocolate Hot Nutcracker, choreographed by Debbie Allen.

Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet will open the show.