Ignacio “Nachito “Herrera Hot Classic Cuban Piano Latin Jazz stunned Cuban audiences at the age of 12, performing Rachmaninoff s Concerto No 2 with the Havana Symphony Orchestra. He later joined the famed “Cubanismo ” as the lead pianist, arranger, and Musical Director. He was also a special guest for “Afrocuban All Stars “. Nachito has played at many of the world’s finest concert halls and prestigious jazz festivals. He has had many awards, including City Pages Best Jazz Artist for 4 years, Emmys, Grammys, Minnesota Music Awards, the Immigrants of Distinction Award, among many others.
Nachito has been playing with his own band, as well as with different projects and orchestras, including the Minnesota Orchestra, The Wayzata Symphony Orchestra (Marlene Pauley, Music Director), Youth Symphony, Metropolitan Orchestra, Cuban National Symphony, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, Chippewa Valley Symphony, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Big Band, and many others. Nachito’s musicianship continues to wow audiences everywhere.
City Pages
Emy
Grammys
Minnesota Music Awards 4 years
AILA Minnesota / Dakotas Chapter
American Heritage Awards
American Heritage Award Recipient
Ph.D. in Music
Master in Piano and Composition.
Composer and Orchestra Director.
Minnesota Music Awards winner – 3 years
Classically Trained at the Institute of Art in Havana, Cuba
Hungarian Classical piano technique
Classical music studies – Polish and Russian technique
Master of Afro-Cuban music, Popular, and Latin Jazz.
Teacher of piano and technique – MacPhail Center for Music
Master Classes at various universities and colleges
Emmy Nominee – Guest Artist – Minnesota Original – Twin Cities
Public Television (Weekly Art Series – Legacy Celebration)
City Pages Article – One of the most important Jazz musicians in the Twin Cities
Recognition – Latin Beat.
Recognition – Jazz Times.
Several tunes used in Hollywood movies.
More than 40 CD’s made as pianist, composer, and producer.
Currently, director of my own band, which carries a mixture of styles.
Besides learning and mastering the piano, studies have included trumpet, bass, and drums. Producing CDs and arranging all music including all original compositions. It should be noted that several of my students have received full scholarships to music colleges.