Cristian Perez is an Argentine-born guitarist and composer currently living in Northern Virginia. A graduate of Arlington’s Yorktown High School, he holds a Masters in Music degree with a double concentration in Classical guitar and Jazz Studies from GMU, and was an Artist-in-Residence at Strathmore in 2014-15. His debut album “Anima Mundi” has received numerous reviews throughout the world (Italy, Australia, Russia, Germany, Bolivia, South Korea, etc.), and reached #13 in the CMJ World Music charts in the USA. Cristian has also been featured on Vintage Guitar Magazine.

Cristian began taking piano lessons at the age of 5, but did not find his true passion until he picked up the guitar in his mid-teens after being inspired by rock groups from Argentina. Self-taught on guitar, he gravitated towards classical guitar after moving to the U.S. in 2002. Encouraged to pursue music by his high school teacher Ken Hall, Cristian met Paraguayan guitarist extraordinaire Berta Rojas, under whom he studied privately for two years.

Cristian went on to study classical guitar under Larry Snitzler at George Mason University, and quickly immersed himself in chamber groups, guitar ensembles, and jazz bands large and small. Cristian developed a passion for jazz, and began studying under jazz guitarist Rick Whitehead. While pursuing a double-major in Performance and Jazz Studies at GMU. He was named a winner for the GMU Honors Recital four times (2009-2012), and was honored as an outstanding graduate upon completion of his Master’s Degree in 2012.

Cristian has played at some of the top venues in the Metropolitan area, such as Strathmore, Blues Alley, Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Bohemian Caverns, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, and Twins. He has performed in Bulgaria, Mexico, China, Dominican Republic, South Korea, Canada, and Bolivia, as well as across the USA.

Cristian seeks to nurture his curiosity and love for all types of music by immersing himself in as many different genres as possible and drawing inspiration from all in an honest way. Cristian is the founder of the Eclectic Jam, a jam session/open mic/facebook group that aims at promoting diversity and embracing all types of music and cultures.