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Ariel Zaviezo

Ariel Zaviezo

On Stage

A native of Santiago, Chile, Ariel Zaviezo joined the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as Acting Principal Timpani at the beginning of the 2018-1019 season. He previously held positions as Acting Principal Timpani with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra in Tennessee, and as Principal Timpani with the Mansfield Symphony and Blue Water Chamber Orchestra in Cleveland, Ohio.
 
Before joining the CSO, Ariel kept a busy schedule as a freelance musician, playing both timpani and percussion with a wide array of orchestras in the United States, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, Erie Philharmonic, Louisiana Philharmonic, Toledo Symphony, and West Virginia Symphony.
 
Ariel earned a bachelor’s degree in percussion performance from Universidad Católica de Chile, and a master’s degree in percussion performance from Carnegie Mellon University. He also studied for two years with Tom Freer – Assistant Principal Timpani and Percussion with The Cleveland Orchestra. Additionally, he attended the summer institute at Brevard Music Center in 2006 and 2007, and the Duff Timpani Masterclass in 2007.
 
Before moving to the U.S., Ariel played as substitute percussion with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Chile for four seasons (2002–2005), and was Principal Timpani with the Leicester Symphony Orchestra in England for three seasons (2010–2012).
 
Ariel lives in NoDa with his wife, Cassie, their daughter, Lila, and their two cats, Etta and James.