Biography

Yilian Cañizares is one of the most captivating violinists, singers, and composers on today’s contemporary music scene. Without ever betraying her roots, she masterfully fuses jazz, classical music, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, all carried by a voice that seems to come from another world. Few artists, whether on stage or in the studio, possess the level of virtuosity, charisma, and versatility that defines Yilian—seamlessly blending the technical rigor of classical violin, the expressive freedom of jazz, and the rich sonic palette of her native Havana, Cuba.

Her love for music emerged at an early age. At just four years old, she began studying violin and piano, and by fourteen, she earned a scholarship to study in Caracas. In 2000, she moved to Fribourg, Switzerland, to continue her training at the conservatory. Later in Lausanne, she collaborated with various ensembles and founded the quartet Ochumare, with which she won at the Montreux Jazz Festival Competition in 2008. Since then, her career has been in continuous ascent.

Over the years, she has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Ibrahim Maalouf, Chucho Valdés, Omar Sosa, Diego El Cigala, Youn Sun Nah, Richard Bona, Jon Batiste, Cimafunk, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, and El Comité. Artistic collaboration with musicians from all corners of the globe is a defining trait of her career, as evidenced in her acclaimed 2018 album Aguas, produced in partnership with Omar Sosa. “My sound reflects the richness and cultural blend that now live within me and make me who I am: a woman, a Cuban, a musician, a citizen of the world,” says the artist.

The success of her four previous albums has solidified her reputation as a bold creator capable of venturing beyond stylistic boundaries. In 2021, she was awarded the prestigious Swiss Music Prize, and in 2024, she was named one of the 100 most influential figures in French-speaking Switzerland by the Forum des 100, recognizing her national and international impact, her unique artistic identity, and her extraordinary talent as a violinist and vocalist.

Her most recent work, Habana-Bahía, recorded in Brazil, celebrates the diversity of her musical influences and radiates joy, hope, and strength. It also reflects her deep social commitment. A woman of firm convictions, Yilian was named a “Voice of the Oceans” by the United Nations in 2021. She is a passionate advocate for gender equality, racial justice, and education—values she carries both in her music and in life. She regularly gives masterclasses at institutions such as Stanford University, Louisiana State University, and the Verbier Festival.

In 2025, following a standout appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival Miami alongside legends like Chucho Valdés, Paquito D’Rivera and Jon Batiste, Cimafunk, Yilian Cañizares returns with a vibrant new project: Vitamina Y. Set for release in 2026, this album is a love letter to those who have supported her journey, a celebration of the collective strength that has allowed her to grow as an artist, a woman, and a sensitive human being.