meet the artist Francis Peña

Francis Peña Biography

Francis Peña is a drummer and percussionist from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with renowned artists such as Pedro Capó, Jesús Molina, Jesse & Joy, Ivy Queen, Johnny Ventura, Yasser Tejeda, and many others. He began playing drums at the age of 2 and, by 3 years old, performed with the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Juan Pablo Duarte at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música (June 1998). Around this time, he also began formal music studies, developing the ability to read and understand musical phrases. At age 4, Francis appeared in his first musical theater production, La Pinky Hood & La Flecha Mágica, by the late Dominican actress Nuryn Sanlley, at the Teatro Nacional de Santo Domingo. The show went on to win "Best Children’s Show of the Year" at the Premios Casandra (National Awards). By the time he was 5, Francis had the opportunity to perform with the legendary Johnny Ventura, the artist credited with bringing merengue to an international audience. He began his formal education at Escuela Elemental Elila Mena, later transferring to the Conservatorio Nacional de Música to study Classical Percussion. While at the conservatory, he also performed with numerous national and international bands and orchestras as an independent drummer and percussionist. In December 2017, Francis received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, sponsored by renowned pianist Michel Camilo. He began pursuing a Performance major in the Fall of 2018. In 2021, he was invited to be the drummer for the first season of The Voice Dominicana, though he had to leave mid-season to return to the United States and complete his studies. After graduating from Berklee in 2022, Francis remained in Massachusetts, where he continues to establish himself as a versatile musician, showcasing his drumming skills across a wide range of genres while performing and recording for diverse projects.

Country: United States