In 2000 I moved to Xalapa city, Mexico to continue my studies with Rodrigo Alvarez in the University of Veracruz (UV), my formation became way more complete and my perspective developed at giant steps, not only by the teachings of wonderful tutors but must of all for the artistic environment that surrounded all of us, all forms of art collaborating, exchanging and creating, soon enough I started collaborating with other musicians, dancers, composers, plastic artists and even with mathemathicians (more of that in the coming years), I had the opportunity to perform my own music as a soloist and with many different projects showing and growing in my rol as composer.

As performer was also a great period bringing me even to play with the Orchestra in "Palacio de Bellas Artes" in Mexico city, the most prestigious place in the whole country

2001 was an important year because it brought me for the first time to Belgium (that will later become my home), after a year of intensive preparation I participated in the International Marimba Competition in the category of duo with Ivan Cipactli in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, it was great to see again some of the great masters of marimba in action and meet new fantastic musicians like Keiko Kotoku (with whom I would later record one of my compositions), Theodor Milkov, Eriko Daimo, and even though we didn't get the result we wanted with Cipactli from our participation, two good friends (Juan Martinez & Miguel Gonzales) would win the first prize in the competition

I came back to Mexico with my motivation and inspiration at a high level, and I dove into intensively composing and performing, absorbing all influences, experimenting, creating and enjoying ... I wasn't looking for any rewards but next year had some surprises waiting for me.

I won the Nationa Marimba Competition in the category of composition and/or arrangement with my piece DESPANTO.

It opened many doors as performer and composer and I was extremely motivated being in the midst of it, I was invited by Ludwig Albert to do my Master degree in Antwerp, Belgium, I was asked to play a marimba solo program with my music at the International Festival Cervantino.

As a composer I completed a course of electroacoustic music composition given by the great Javier Alvarez in the Marista University in Merida, Mexico and I started working as musician for the Theater Company TISEC directed by Yaco Gigi and Constanza Alfaro in Xalapa Veracruz.

A year full of accomplishments and that invitation from Ludwig that would take me to the other side of the world.

We created, together with Erik Baqueiro, Jesus Lara, Salvador Parra and my brother from another mother David "Vico" Garcia the MathMusic open community where we researched and discussed the link between mathematics and music, the project grew that much that at a point we were invited by the University to give a seminar, workshops and presentations dedicated to this theme

I was invited again to an important international festival “Rosario Castellanos” to perform my music, it was very special for me because it was the premiere of “La Noche de los Girasoles” a piece based on the homonymous book of my grandfather the writer Oscar Bonifaz Caballero and he could be present, an emotive experience for both of us.

This year also marked an important achievement in my studies, I completed the Course of Advances Studies in Percussion given by TAMBUCO ensemble in CENART, Mexico and I was invited as a guest player with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Veracruz to perform pieces of Leroy Osmon.

This year was a turning point in my life, I moved to Antwerp, Belgium to study with Ludwig Albert, my original plan was to finish my master and go back to Mexico, I mean, I had a pretty nice and decent live there and had built a career so, why leave it and start again from scratch right? … little I knew that it would become the place I call home.

Roman invited me to be part of his new project, Sindicato Sonico that would become my main group for the coming years and it would keep very much alive my connection with Mexico, Latin-America, Belgium. Their house was all the time full of artists coming in and out and so I got the chance to be in contact with great musicians and artists like Kobe Proesmans, Gabriel Rios and many others, a strong introduction to the Belgian artistic life.

At the same time that Sindicato Sonico was growing as an stablished band, I started my own projects.

We combined the language of classical, contemporary and jazz together with dance and visuals and in the years to come we performed at great places like De Monty, Rivierenhoof Openlucht Theater, deSingel and Het Paleis between others, and could work and experiment together with many terrific dancers and visual artists.

Even though the project has stopped our friendship and the beauty of the work we did remains and is still an inspiration in my current projects.

more coming soon

coming soon

In march I had the oportunity to work with an amazing team in De Singel for Anna Meredith's "HandsFree" ... and what an experience it was, an orchestral work without instruments, a choreographed musical experience that feels both, innovative and familiar, the leading from David Ogle and Jack Ross was very good and we all hope to collaborate again in the near future. Thanks to De Verman vzw for making it possible.

The year was met also with nostalgic moments, mainly that we had our "last concert" with TriOrganico, Patricia and Osvaldo moved to Mexico and the future of the project is on hold, and eventhough it is still very much alive our daily work will be missed here in Belgium.

In the beginning of july I was back again at De Singel for another fantastic project, "Klink & Klater", a whole week working with young children to make an orchestra, the perfect beginning of a summer, this time it was organized by AMAJ, thanks to them too.

As the cherry on top I had the opportunity to work again with my good friends and colleagues from Argentina, Carlos Passeggi, Gonzalo Villalba and Fernando Massino for our project "El TocaRuidos", we had two amazing concerts, one in De Kunstacademie in Wetteren and the other at Kildevæld Kulturcentrum in Copenhagen, if you haven't seen this project live you don't know what you are missing ... don't worry, we are planning to present the project on a yearly basis, getting better everytime, don't miss your chance to experience it.