Born in 1971 in Zaragoza (Aragón/Spain), Diego Escolano is a multi-instrumentalist specialized in traditional and early music that currently focuses his interests on the connections between both musical worlds. He is a member of the ensembles Zaraval , Pasatrés or Lou d’Aragón and takes part in musical projects like Viento del Norte/Viento del Sur (in collaboration with Ian Harrison and Gesine Bänfer from Les haulz et les bas) or Arag’Occitania (with the French band Castanha e Vinovèl). In addition, he is an active freelance musician and music teacher, performing in solo concerts as well.

 

Having played guitars since his childhood, he completed a bachelor degree in recorder at the CSMA (Conservatorio Superior de música de Aragón) studying with Anna Margules. He has also expanded his knowledge and skills in recorder/consort performance (with Kees Boeke, Paul Leenhous, Pedro Sousa, Vicente Parrilla, Joan Izquierdo, Reine-Marie Verhagen); Shawm and historical oboes (with Renate Hildebrand, Lucio Paolo Testi or Molly Marsh); medieval music performance (Mauricio Molina, Juan Carlos Asensio) and Early Music performance in general in the context of different courses and master classes.

 

Diego has complemented his studies of music with many research works in the traditional music field (one of them awarded with the national CIOFF folklore prize), having the chance to meet the last pipers and traditional musicians from the Aragonese oral tradition and to learn directly from them. In this side, he has written two books (one of them in collaboration) and many research papers. He also has been teaching traditional music instruments for over 20 years.

 

He has been playing from all around Europe with different ensembles, having recorded in eleven CDs with them.