Joel de Jesús Díaz

Joel de Jesús Díaz (b. 2001) is a Cuban composer and pianist based in Havana. His music blends classical tradition with contemporary aesthetics, often inspired by visual art, literature, and other creative disciplines. The contemporary character of his work emerges from his rhythmic approach and the exploration of subtle atmospheres in some pieces. Trained as a classical pianist from an early age, he writes works that are both technically and expressively demanding, with many of his ideas rooted in the classical piano tradition that shaped his formative years. Some of his pieces also incorporate a subtle touch of humor within their artistic framework. He graduated summa cum laude in composition from Universidad de las Artes in Havana, under the guidance of Juan Piñera. Díaz has been recognized in several national and international competitions, including 1st Prize in the Third SYN(es)THESIS International Composition Competition (Bulgaria, 2023), 1st Prize in the Harold Gramatges Composition Competition (Cuba, 2023), 2nd Prize in the XIII International Competition for Young Musicians ‘Premio Annarosa Taddei’ (Italy, 2025), and 3rd Prize in the European Creative Contest ‘Euregio Klassika’ (Italy,2025). He has attended lectures and workshops by composers such as Salvatore Sciarrino, Nicola Sani, Rebecca Saunders, Girolamo Deraco, and others.
IG: @joeldjdiaz