Cristian Valenzuela

/ Moonlight

Cvs ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Cristian Valenzuela
Cristian Valenzuela was born in Santiago, Chile. He began guitar lessons at the age of nine with a private instructor. During this time he began learning techniques, chords, fingerstyles and rhythm. At fourteen, he enrolled in the National Academy of Music in Santiago, where he learned composition, harmony and advanced techniques. During this time, he became familiar with South American folklore, Brazilian jazz and comtemporary music. He began composing his first musical material at the age of fifteen.
In 1984, Cristian founded his first musical group, a new wave band creating original material with European influence. They completed their first album a year later. It was then that the band, and especially Cristian’s compositions, got the attention of radio producers and program directors. Galaxy FM invited Cristian for his first radio interview as a professional musician, after which his music played on the top radio stations in Chile such as Carolina FM, Concierto and Galaxia FM. They also performed in many concerts and TV shows.
In 1992 after moving to the United States, Cristian met Colombian producer and guitarist Edgar Sarasty. Later in 1994, publisher Janet Smith offered to record under her company, Scarab Music, with Edgar Sarasty as producer. An album of his original songs entitled “Acoustic Rain” was born and presented at the Midem Music Festival in France. It saw national distribution, airplay in 18 states, and reached the top ten chart in New Jersey.
His 1997 second release, “The Other Side of the Mirror”, was nominated one of the Best Top 100 CD’s of the Year by Pure Jazz Magazine. “Higher Revelation”, released in 1998, included “Wonderland”- a song that reached heavy rotation on several radio stations, featured a beautiful rendition of Gino Vanelli’s “I Just Want to Stop”, and an up-tempo version of Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five”.
Valenzuela has performed at some of the most famous jazz festivals and venues in the Central Florida area such as Cityjazz and Latin Quarter at Universal Studios, Pleasure Island Jazz Company at Disney, Stetson University, Winter Park Jazz Festival, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Naples Jazz Festival among many others. He opened shows for Kirk Whalum and Warren Hill, and performed with national artists such as Bonafide, Slim Man, Mindi Abear and Carl Anderson from the Rippingtons. He continues to play special events for WLOQ- Orlando’s Smooth radio station and special charity events for organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Florida Hospital Stetson University and The Golden Rule Foundation .