Richard Padrón, Guitarist for all occassions

Richard Padrón, an accomplished composer and guitarist,
is known for his versatility and virtuosity. Born in Cuba and
raised in Miami, Richard Padrón, “on electric and acoustic
guitars, writes music in a very particular way, using
unusual melodic, rhythmic and harmonic approaches. His
guitar playing is compelling, powerful and
passionate” (Paquito D’Rivera, NJPAC 2013).
Richard began playing guitar at the age of 12; as a young
musician, he also played clarinet, electric bass, and snare
drum. As a student at the prestigious conservatory New
World School of the Arts in Miami, he focused his studies
on guitar performance and composition. Before
graduation, Richard was already part of the professional
music scene in Miami, working with players twice his age,
including jazz greats such as Ira Sullivan and Othello
Mollineaux. Soon after moving to New York, Richard
began working with Michael Philip Mossman and Zé Luis
Oliveira before joining Lauryn Hill’s national tour as a lead
guitarist.
Now residing in Miami, Richard records and mixes all of his
music in his home project studio. His first album “Cuban
Reflections” bares the roots that color his compositions
while revealing an identity that is uniquely his own. His
orchestral work “Travesia Africana” was performed by the
Bronx Arts Ensemble, conducted by Maestro David Gilbert
in 2016. Richard’s ability to capture the emotion and
compelling detail of a story through music crosses all
genres, making him a sought-after composer in the Indie
scene, having scored five independent short films. Most
recently, his music is featured in the documentary
“Rethinking Cuban Civil Society.” Richard is an asset to
any ensemble. Under his leadership, Richard Padrón
Group has performed at the Tudo É Jazz Festival as well
as highly regarded venues around NYC, including The Bar
Next Door, Fat Cat, and Minton’s. Additionally, he has
performed 4 times with the Distinguished Concerts
Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Richard was the winner of the
Smithsonian Folkways Wild Wild East Remix competition
in 2020.