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Jose Soto Gamboa

Jose Soto Gamboa.

Education and Training

’07 BA, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica; ’14 BM, New England Conservatory; ’19 MM, Berklee College of Music

Awards and Recognition

Artistic Grant Awardee The Boston Foundation LAB Program 2024

Gold Medal Awardee in the Global Music Awards 2023

Artistic Grant Awardee The Boston Foundation LAB Program 2021

Artistic Grant Awardee New Music USA 2022

Artistic Grant for Creative Individuals, Mass Cultural Council USA 2022

Artistic Grant Awardee Ibermusicas 2019

Jose Soto Gamboa

Division: Expanded Education

Department: Contemporary Musical Arts

Instrument: Piano

Driven by the purpose of creating socially conscious music, José Soto, an awarded artist, and a prominent Costa Rican pianist, composer, and educator, explores free improvisation, jazz, classical music, and Latin American rhythms. His musical education led him to study at the National University of Costa Rica, New England Conservatory, and the master's program at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute at Berklee College of Music.

In 2023, he released his album titled “The Ancestral Call” at the Lincoln Center in New York, inspired by the ancestral knowledge and culture of the Bribri indigenous community of Costa Rica. The Global Music Awards awarded this album the Gold Medal, and it was mentioned in NPR‘s list of Best Alternative Latin Music in 2023. It has also been highlighted by Jazziz Editor’s Choice and featured in NBC New York and People Magazine. Prominent jazz musicians such as George Garzone and Francisco Mela recorded in this project.

In his career as a performer, José has toured nationally and internationally with the most influential groups in his country and has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Francisco Mela, George Garzone, Luciana Souza, Chico Pinheiro, Danilo Perez, and Eddie Daniels, performing at numerous festivals in Latin America, the United States, and Europe.

José currently resides in Boston, where he works as a professor in the Ear Training department at Berklee College of Music, the Contemporary Musical Arts department within New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School and Adult Education program, and Curry College in Milton, Massachusetts.

José Soto ft. Francisco Mela - Cognitive Injustice

Curriculum Vitae

’07 BA, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica; ’14 BM, New England Conservatory; ’19 MM, Berklee College of Music

  • Artistic Grant Awardee The Boston Foundation LAB Program 2024
  • Gold Medal Awardee in the Global Music Awards 2023
  • Artistic Grant Awardee The Boston Foundation LAB Program 2021
  • Artistic Grant Awardee New Music USA 2022
  • Artistic Grant for Creative Individuals, Mass Cultural Council USA 2022
  • Artistic Grant Awardee Ibermusicas 2019