Nestor Torres

He’s back! Nestor Torres, contemporary flute virtuoso and beloved Lyric regular, returns to the stage this October for another night of Latin-fused fun. The Puerto-Rican native has been making waves in the music industry since the 1980s, stunning audiences with his revolutionary blend of jazz, classical, and Latin genres all channeled through his famous flute. Nestor Torres’ fan club grows bigger each year, as he impresses listeners, young and old, with his unique style of music, featuring powerful dance beats and lyrical improvisation.

 

Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nestor Torres was introduced to the flute at the age of 12 and he never looked back. Nestor eventually moved to New York City as a teenager and quickly proved himself a highly talented musician, attending the renowned Mannes School of Music and, eventually, the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. When he finally moved to Miami in 1981, Nestor saw the opportunity to incorporate his classical teaching with the fresh and vibrant flair of the South Florida music scene, as he began to learn how to improvise using a Cuban dance style called “Charanga”. Nestor’s hard work paid off and the aspiring flautist began playing with local Cuban and Latin dance bands which included the likes of Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, and Celia Cruz. 

 

Nowadays, Nestor Torres tours all around the world, performing with a wide variety of artists, including Ricky Martin, Tito Puente Jr., and Gloria Estefan. When he’s not on tour, Nestor is in the recording studio, producing original songs or bringing a fresh spin to the classics. Nestor has recorded a total of 13 albums, including Treasure of My Heart and My Latin Soul, which were both nominated for a Latin Grammy. His album, This Side of Paradise, won the Latin Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental on September 11th, 2001. Nestor credits this award with inspiring him to continue to create music as a means of enlightening the human spirit and sponsoring peace around the world. His latest album, Nouveau Latino, is a refreshing return to the musician’s roots, featuring lots of new improvisational approaches to Latin classics by artists such as Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades.

 

Aside from his enormous success in the music industry, Nestor has been widely celebrated for his dedicated involvement in programs promoting peace and education not only locally, but worldwide. Nestor has received two honorary degrees from Barry University and Carlos Albizu University for his commitment to youth education and cultural exchanges in the Miami area and for his role as an Ambassador of Peace and Culture. Recently, Nestor had the honor of representing the International Committee of Artists for Peace, performing at the opening ceremony of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons in Oslo, Norway, a summit attended by over 500 participants from more than 70 countries. Locally, Nestor has personally developed the Nestor Torres Foundation, an organization designed to inspire social change through music, discussion, and education in the South Florida community. In 2012, Nestor Torres worked with the Education Foundation of Martin County, conducting Master Classes for the most talented high school musicians in the area and culminating in a Lyric Theater concert featuring Torres himself and his class pupils.

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