is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer and educator who specializes in Venezuelan folk music and also music from other Latin American and Caribbean countries. In addition to her mandolin and cuatro expertise, Rago is an accomplished percussionist and vocalist. Jackeline Rago is the artistic and musical director of the “Venezuelan Music Project” (www.venezuelanmusicproject.com) and a founding member of the”VNote Ensemble” (www.vnoteensemble.com) bands which she travels and performs with. She was also a founding member of “Altazor” (Nueva Canción ensemble), “Wild Mango” (world beat music), “Keith Terry & Crosspulse” (world percussion) and “Trio Altamira” (contemporary Latin American music). Jackeline Rago has been a guest artist on recordings and performances by prominent artists such as John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Andy Narell, Mike Marshall, Holly Near, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, Isay Barnwell (Sweet Honey in the Rock), Marco Granados (Venezuelan flutist), Aquiles Báez (Venezuelan guitarist), Alexander Livinalli (Venezuelan percussionist), Rebeca Mauleon, Omar Sosa, the Oakland Youth Chorus, various Windam Hill recording artists and many other musicians and ensembles within the U.S. and Venezuela. http://jackelinerago.com/
Just recently, Rago received the “Award of Excellence in Music“ given by the Mission Cultural Center for the Latino Arts in its 30th Anniversary, in San Francisco, CA. Additionally, Jackeline is a recipient of awards and grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, California Arts Council, Meet the Composer/Readers Digest Commissioning Program, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Foundation and AIM (Adventures in Music program sponsored by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra). Furthermore, Rago was an Artist in Residence of the State of California from 1989 to 2001.