Nestor Zurita

Born in New York, Nestor grew up in Quito-Ecuador. Nestor started to play the saxophone at age 15 and was picked up by the “ University of Montana ” Big Band at the age 17. Moved by a great desire to learn more about his mother's Cuban heritage he traveled to Miami were, after receiving a scholarship, he entered “ Miami Dade University ”. In search for new challenges Nestor entered “Manhattan School of Music” were he was awarded various scholarships for his performances and improvisations, and studied under the guidance of Steve Slagel and Bobby Watson. After this he studied at “The New School Jazz”. To enrich his knowledge of improvisation and composition he has traveled thru the United States, Europe, and various countries of Central and South America, playing hundreds of concerts in a wide variety of styles, from Jazz to Classical to Contemporary and Modern Music, and exploring and playing traditional miusic from arround the world. By invitation of Master Saxophonist Steve Lacy, Nestor traveled to Paris to play concerts and record. Some of the Music Festivals that Nestor has played at are “Brussels Jazz Festival” in Belgium, The classical festival “Fetes De La Musique” in Paris-France, “Fetes De La Musique” Quito-Ecuador, “Fetes De La Musique” Miami, “Guayaquill International Jazz Festival” Guayaquil-Ecuador. Etc. Maestro Zurita was also a guest artist of the University of Miami , were he performed two classical concerts next to master pianist Jose Ignacio Dias. Nestor has also performed concerts with the “Ecuadorian National Symphony Orchestra ”, and has been a guest artist to various universities. As a composer Nestor Zurita has written hundreds of works for various instruments and especially on the development of the saxophone. Nestor Zurita plays on a Sterling Silver Mouthpiece and Ebony Wood Mouthpieces made by the famous Luthier Norverto Novik, and specially designed for him.