Julian Avendaño

Julian Avendaño is a classical pianist and educator with a Master’s degree in Piano Performance and Instrumental Pedagogy from the National University of Colombia, where he studied under Mac McClure. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Piano Performance at Western Michigan University with Professor Lori Sims. Passionate about sharing the rich musical traditions of Latin America and Spain, Julian regularly incorporates these repertoires into his recitals. His love for piano pedagogy also plays a significant role in his career; he has taught piano at the National University of Colombia and Suzuki schools in Bogotá. Currently, he teaches at Western Michigan University. This dual commitment to performance and education has allowed him to become a versatile and dynamic artist.

Julian has participated in prominent music festivals, including the Cartagena International Music Festival (Colombia), Ibague Piano International Festival (Colombia), FEMUSC (Brazil), Brevard Music Center Festival (USA), University of Florida International Piano Festival (USA), and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival (USA), where he was a guest pianist at OperaFest 2022.

His dedication to promoting Latin American and Spanish music is central to his artistic mission, driven by a desire to connect audiences with this vibrant cultural heritage. In addition to his performance and teaching career, Julian has served as an administrative coordinator for the Bogotá Musical Internacional class at the National University of Colombia. His responsibilities included organizing music venues for the university, managing social media, live-streaming events, and acting as an art administrator and pedagogue.