Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo was born and raised in Cuba. His talented, musically active and gifted father Porfirio Nunez was a former singer of one of the oldest Cuban orchestras "Brisas de Nipe".
With Joaquin’s growing love of sounds, beats and rhythms his father quickly noticed in him a flourishing musical gift, a natural ability which his dad decided to foster with the proper foundations of structure and appropriate schooling in order to allow for this talent to grow. These foundations along with a great and natural love of the roots and nuances of music have driven Joaquin to the forefront of the music industry in his field. His father has been and currently remains to be his greatest influence as teacher, supporter and colleague.
As a professional artist Joaquin has had a successful music career in Cuba. Performing in multiple music events and festivals he shared the stage with some of Cuba’s most elite musicians such as Emiliano Salvador, Juan Pablo Torres & Joel Rodriguez Milor.
Finally settling in Canada in 1999 Joaquin quickly became emerged into the circle of music by performing with various renown artists (Jane Bunnett, Bill King, Njacko Backo, Eddie Bullen) in most of the festivals in the country as well as internationally (Montreal Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Toronto 1 television show).
Other than finding him performing in these venues, Joaquin is also bringing his vast performing and cultural experiences to the classroom by offering numerous clinics and workshops in various locations in the greater Toronto area. As a master Afro-Cuban percussionist, Joaquin has worked closely with other great clinicians such as Giovanni Hidalgo & Nii Tettey Tetteh. Joaquin has also organized cultural retreats to Cuba providing his students the opportunity of experiencing the authenticity of Cuban culture first hand and financially supporting the development of music programs in Cuba.
Joaquin is also the leader and director of the Afro-Cuban percussion ensemble "Rumba Iyabo" and the traditional Cuban music group "Cubanos". He has recorded multiple projects with the most recent being Hilario Big Band CD "From the Heart" featuring Horatio El Negro Hernandes & Paquito de Riveras. As well Joaquin has produced live shows highlighting Canada’s most elite Cuban musicians such as the "Rumberos Afro-Cuban Master Sessions" in Toronto on September 26 & 27th, 2003 and the "Toronto, Cuba" show at the Distillery Jazz Festival on May 20th, 2004.
