Piraí Vaca is one of the best known Bolivian musicians at both a national and international level. He is considered by the international press to be one of the most admired Latin American guitarists. In the Washington Post, the following comment appeared: “ he made an impact on the audience with his musicality and control”. The German newspaper, Rhein Zeitung, wrote: “… and without any fear of exaggeration, we can say that with Piraí Vaca at the Mosel Music Festival one of the most outstanding guitarists in the world …”; and, recently, the Rheinische Post, another German newspaper, had this to say: “… technically brilliant, but how does one define the guitarist? Difficult, because this man demonstrates concentrated emotion, he combines musicality with spirituality, spirituality with virtuosity and profoundness with superficiality…modest and simple but full of self-confidence…”.
In recognition of his international career, he is one of the few Latin Americans to be granted the Fellowship of the Americas, awarded by the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts whose headquarters is in Washington. In his own country, he has been awarded the maximum award: The National Award for Music, awarded by the Asssociation of Writers, Plastic Artists and Musicians.
Piraí Vaca has been declared Most Outstanding Bolivian Living Abroad by the United Nations for Youth, and World Class Bolivian by the Latin American Press Association and the Bolivian Association of Press Workers. He has also been declared by the Escuela Europea de Negocios as one of the most Successful Bolivian Abroad. He has received the Recognition for Artistic Endeavour and Bolivian Integration from the Municipal Governments of El Alto, La Paz, Potosí and Montero and the Gold Medal from the Municipal Government of Santa Cruz, awarded to Illustrious Citizens. He was also elected Outstanding Young Bolivian by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, to mention just some of the prizes he has been awarded.
Born in Bolivia, Piraí Vaca studied with Jesús Ortega at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Habana, Cuba, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in music with a speciality in guitar and a Post-graduate degree in Renaissance Music, winning the Prize for the most Outstanding Graduate of the Year. He continued his studies with Manuel Barrueco in the USA and, subsequently, with Hubert Käppel at the Superior Conservatory of Music in Cologne, Germany. Piraí lives in Bolivia. Piraí has taken his guitar on concert tours to Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, the USA, Canada, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Luxembourg, England, France, China and India.