Andrés is a professional musician and Teaching Artist, that specializes in hand percussion from the African Diaspora in the Caribbean and South America. Andrés was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela from a multicultural family of progressive thinkers, artists, educators and performers. At an early age, he started migrating with his family and initially arrived in the U.S. A teenager away from his native home, Andrés drew closer to his African roots as a way to channel the sudden changes in his environment and began the life long journey of learning music.

Andrés arrived to Philadelphia after finishing his studies in Puerto Rico in 2008. Shortly after, he met Argentinian percussionist Christian Noguera and co-founded TIMBALONA, a percussion duo that explores and incorporates new elements and sounds to Latin Jazz music. Their work has opened up opportunities to collaborate with various artists and projects, were their contributions in experience and expertise have developed a great deal of ideas in rhythm and styles from Latin American music. 

Presently, Andrés balances his career as a fulltime music educator and musician. He is the founding Elementary Music Teacher at Independence Charter School West, in Philadelphia where he created and developed the school’s K-6th grade World Music and Arts curriculum. Andrés continues to be a freelance percussionist, working for several bands and artists as a vocalist and drummer. In addition, Andrés collaborates for music education organizations such as Musicopia, Young Audiences, and Artists and Musicians of Latin America (AMLA) by creating curriculum, leading and facilitating assemblies, workshops and presentations of Latin and Caribbean music, to students from Kindergarten to High School.