Santiago Cañón-Valencia, cello

Colombian cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia is an internationally acclaimed soloist, composer, and recording artist recognized for his expressive depth and technical brilliance. Described by The Strad as “technically flawless… totally under the skin of the composers’ idioms,” he will perform works of Debussy, Ginastera, Shostakovich, and more.

Program

DEBUSSY: Sonate in D minor, L. 135
GINASTERA: Cello Sonata, Op. 49
PÄRT: Fratres
CAÑON-VALENCIA: Ad Noctem
SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Sonata in D minor, Op. 40
Born in Bogotá in 1995, he made his orchestral debut at just six years old with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and has since built a global career spanning major concert halls and orchestras.

A BBC New Generation Artist (2022), Cañón-Valencia has performed with leading ensembles including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Seoul Philharmonic, as well as orchestras throughout the Americas and Europe. His 2025–2026 season features engagements with the San Francisco Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, and Camerata Pacifica, alongside international recitals and festival appearances.

A prizewinner at major competitions—including Silver Medalist and Audience Favorite at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition—he is also a passionate advocate for new music, regularly premiering and commissioning works by contemporary composers.

As a recording artist, his releases range from core repertoire to original compositions, including his debut on Deutsche Grammophon and his album Ascenso, highlighting Latin American voices. Equally dedicated to artistic exploration, Cañón-Valencia’s work reflects a broad creative vision that extends beyond performance into composition and the visual arts.