Mariano Escalona is a versatile drummer, percussionist, vocalist, and arranger originally from Caracas, Venezuela. His musical journey began at the age of thirteen through Venezuela’s renowned El Sistema program, where he completed six years of intensive classical percussion training. During this formative period, he performed in some of the country’s most prestigious concert halls and appeared with professional orchestras under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductors, including Gustavo Dudamel. Following his high school graduation in 2014, Escalona moved to New York City after receiving a full scholarship to attend the Boys & Girls Harbor Conservatory. There, he expanded his artistic foundation through advanced studies in piano and Latin percussion.

 

Mariano's time in New York afforded him opportunities to perform at distinguished venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Plaza Hotel, the Gramercy Theatre, and El Museo del Barrio. Through the Conservatory, he also became involved with Berklee City Music, earning a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music’s prestigious Five-Week Summer Performance Program in 2015. Mariano immersed himself fully in the program and successfully auditioned for Berklee’s undergraduate degree program. During the final week of the summer session, he was awarded a scholarship to pursue his studies at Berklee College of Music full-time.

 

In May 2016, he began his academic career at Berklee in Boston, where he continued to develop both artistically and personally. His studies provided invaluable opportunities to collaborate with a diverse community of students, faculty, and visiting artists, leading to performances across Berklee’s premier venues in a wide range of concerts and productions.Throughout his time at Berklee, Mariano established himself as a highly sought-after musician in both the Boston and New York music scenes. His versatility and professionalism have led to frequent appearances in student recitals, master classes with visiting artists, recording sessions, and numerous professional projects beyond the academic setting. Today, he continues to bring a dynamic blend of technical mastery, cultural depth, and musical versatility to every performance and collaboration.