Juan Diego Flórez: A Voice for Peru
Juan Diego Flórez (Voice ’96) has earned international acclaim as one of the leading operatic tenors of his generation. But beyond the stage, Flórez has become an ambassador for Peruvian music and champion of the next generation, helping preserve cultural traditions and advance opportunities for young people.
A Peruvian Musical Identity
Born in Lima, Peru, in 1973, Flórez grew up surrounded by the country’s popular and folk music. His father was a singer specializing in música criolla, a coastal Peruvian tradition often characterized by its waltz rhythms. Flórez inherited his family’s love of music, singing, playing guitar, and composing songs before pursuing classical vocal training at age 17.
After studying at Curtis, Flórez built an international career specializing in bel canto opera, with performances at leading venues including the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera House. And through projects such as Trialogando, an album celebrating the songs of singer-songwriter-composer Chabuca Granda, he continues to bring his country’s musical heritage to audiences around the world.
Music as a Force for Change
For Flórez, music’s power extends beyond performance. In 2011, he founded Sinfonía por el Perú, an organization that uses music education to support youth development, particularly those facing economic and social barriers. Today, its programs serve more than 5,000 young people across eight regions of Peru.
“The kids improve their lives by [playing in orchestra and singing in chorus. They acquire values, they become better people. This is a great opportunity for them to believe in themselves, to acquire self-esteem.” —Juan Diego Flórez
He describes the organization as “my most beloved activity and project.”
Through Sinfonía por el Perú, Flórez has extended his influence beyond the opera stage, investing in young people and the communities that shape them. His work reflects a lasting commitment to his Peruvian heritage: Not only celebrating the music that shaped him, but ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to discover its transformative power.
