Mateo Montes

Drums & CAP Harmony Teaching Artist

Mateo Montes is a drummer and percussionist from Colombia. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance and Composition within the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and his Master of Music in Jazz Performance from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he studied with drummer and composer Dafnis Prieto.

In 2024, Mateo earned the Central Bank of Colombia’s graduate-study-abroad scholarship, awarded to a single recipient among nearly 100 applicants. In 2026, he was selected for the prestigious Jazz Aspen Academy, donor funded, with artistic director Etienne Charles.

With an unmistakable relationship with the folklore of the different regions of Colombia, Mateo has developed a way of playing that is intrinsically linked to this traditional music. The result is a unique, mestizo sound.

Mateo possesses versatility, a passion for different instruments, and deep knowledge of percussion instruments. With these, he knows how to create his own interpretation and modern approach to Colombian music and modern Jazz.

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