Jackeline Rago is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer and educator who specializes in Venezuelan Folk-Music as well as music from other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.



Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Jackeline Rago began playing music at the age of four. Prior to moving to the United States, she spent years studying the Folk-Venezuelan “Cuatro” (national string instrument) and mandolin at the “Manuel Antonio Carreño Primary School” under the tutelage of Venezuelan folklorist Angel Guanipa. During her teenage years, she completed studies in music theory and harmony at the “Escuela de Musica Prudencio Esaa” and courses in classical mandolin at “The Caracas Philarmonic Orchestra Conservatory” under maestro Ivan Adler.



While in Venezuela, Jackeline Rago also pursued studies in Afro-Venezuelan percussion under folklorists Hector Pacheco and Alexander Livinalli from the “Fundacion Bigott” in Caracas.



In 1989, Jackeline graduated with a B.A. from the Music & Arts Institute of San Francisco, CA, majoring in classical mandolin. Presently, she resides in the Bay Area which has been her home base for the past 20 years. In addition to her Cuatro and mandolin expertise, Rago is an accomplished percussionist and vocalist.



Jackeline Rago is the artistic and musical director of the "Venezuelan Music Project" (Venezuelan Folk music, www.venezuelanmusicproject.com) and a founding member of the"VNote Ensemble" (formerly The Snake Trio, www.vnotensemble.com), bands which she travels and performs with in an ongoing basis. 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.



Just recently, Jackeline 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.



Jackeline Rago has performed nationally and internationally for over 20 years showcasing the music of Latin America with an emphasis in Venezuelan Folk-Music.