CHRISTIAN MORAGA
PERCUSSION | DRUMS
Christian Moraga was born in Santiago, Chile, where he grew up listening to Latin, Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock, and World music. As a teenager, he was introduced to the rudiments and elements of classic percussion and was inspired to pursue music as a career.
At the age of 17, Christian began playing professionally by performing in various venues and festivals throughout Santiago, ranging from Jazz to pop, rock, etc. His continuous search for knowledge and excellence sent him traveling to various locations in the Caribbean, U.S., and South America to learn from the best in their fields. He traveled to Cuba where he studied privately with master percussionist “Changuito”. He visited Peru to learn Afro- Peruvian music with Leonardo Parodi and Brazil where he studied with Ari and Dinho Nascimento. Later, he continued his education in New York at the Harbor Conservatory of the Performing Arts.
Since moving to the United States in 2005, he has performed with renowned artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Chaka Kahn, Frankie Valli, Poncho Sanchez, Harvey Mason, Bob Mintzer, Oscar Hernandez, Conrad Herwig, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Nestor Torres, Bennie Maupin, Orlando "Maraca" Valle, Justo Almario, Yerba Buena, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Tito Nieves, Ismael Miranda, Jimmy Bosh, Fruko, Mongorama and many others.
He currently resides in Los Angeles, California where he performs, records, and teaches privately, giving clinics on a variety of percussion rhythms and concepts from around the world. He’s touring with Frankie Valli and the Four seasons, working simultaneously as a multi- percussionist in his Latin Jazz Quartet “Conganas”. He continues to work with Oscar Hernandez and his band "Alma Libre" and is the drummer on Estrella TV’s “Noches con Platanito”.
Christian is endorsed by Latin Percussion and Sabian Cymbals.