Rafael Zaldivar, Cuban pianist and percussionist, brings rich inspiration to his compositions. After earning a B.A. from the University of Montreal, followed by an M.A. and a DMus from McGill, he studied with legends like Barry Harris and Herbie Hancock. He has performed at numerous jazz festivals, collaborating with artists such as Roy Hargrove and Steve Coleman, and has recorded with Kurt Rosenwinkel. In 2021, he was an artist-in-residence at Berklee College of Music. Recently, he won second place at the Jacksonville International Jazz Piano Competition and served as a judge for the 2023 JUNO Awards.