Juan José Peña Aguirre

"Music is a language of sharing and sincerity. Every stage is a precious opportunity for me to create an authentic dialogue with the audience, where classical works regain all their vitality."

A multifaceted artistic profile

Born in Popayán, Colombia (2009) and raised in Chile before settling in Switzerland, Juan José Peña Aguirre is one of the most complete and precocious musicians of his generation. At 16, he leads a multi-dimensional career: international violin soloist, advanced piano student, award-winning composer, and Artistic Director of the Swiss-Alps Festival.

Academic Path

• HEMU – Haute École de Musique de Lausanne: Benefiting from a rare exception, he joined the Bachelor's program at just 14 years old in the class of Professor Svetlana Makarova. He will graduate in June 2026.
• International Menuhin Music Academy (IMMA): Admitted in 2019, he studied under the direction of Oleg Kaskiv and Renaud Capuçon, and received advice from Pinchas Zukerman.
• Piano: He simultaneously studies piano at the Lausanne Conservatory in Jorge Viladoms' class.
• Mentorship: For the past three years, he has benefited from the mentorship of Master Eduard Wulfson, and perfected his art with Vadim Gluzman (Kronberg Academy) and James Ehnes (Tonebase festival, Münster).

Soloist and International Laureate

• Early debut: First steps as a soloist at age 8 in Chile (2017), then first European concert at the Victoria Hall in Geneva at age 9.
• Orchestras: Sinfonietta de Lausanne, South Bohemian Philharmonic, Concepción Symphony Orchestra, Shumen Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Awards: Triple laureate of the First Prize with distinction at the Swiss Youth Music Competition (2022–2024) in solo violin, chamber music, and composition. National First Prize in Composition in Switzerland (2024).

Festivals

A regular guest at the Niederlenzer Musiktage (world premiere of works by Christoph Croisé), he also performs at the Gstaad New Year Music Festival, Tonebase (Germany), Klasisk i Sentrum (Norway), Herbst in der Helferei (Zurich) and Primeurs Musicales (Switzerland).

Instrument

Juan José plays a 1690 Giovanni Battista Rogeri violin, property of the Maggini Foundation (Switzerland).