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Hailing from Venezuelan Andes, Fran Vielma is a critically acclaimed and award-winning multi-percussionist, composer, and educator. His continuous research on Pan-American rhythms and beyond is integrated with his attraction to concert music and the freedom of jazz. Vielma recently premiered his suite “Common Grounds” at SFJAZZ commissioned by the prestigious Chamber Music America-New Jazz Works and has been a DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellow since 2019. He has been touring the continent with his Venezuelan Jazz Collective since 2019; “Tendencias,”his latest release, includes Vielma’s original works and arrangements and was included in the Best of 2018 lists by Downbeat, Latin Jazz Network, & NYC Jazz Record. Vielma is involved him in concerts, recordings, tours, and festivals around the world with artists such as John Medeski, George Garzone, Antonio Sanchez, Sean Jones, Randy Brecker, Troy Roberts, Gary Thomas, Marshall Gilkes, Cesar Orozco, NEC Jazz Ambassadors, US Army Blues Band, Josanne Francis, and Luis Enriqueto to name a few. Vielma serves as adjunct Jazz faculty at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and Salem State University, as well as artist resident at Shenandoah Conservatory–National Jazz Workshop, Baltimore School of Arts, West Virginia University, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Florida University, and Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra among others.