Bruno Meschi
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Origin story

The journey of the charango

Bolivia, 2022 Places on the research trip: La Paz, Oruro, Cochabamba, Llallagua, Pocoata, Aiquile, Sucre and Potosí, plotted by latitude and longitude. 17°S18°S19°S 68°W67°W66°W65°W La Paz Oruro Cochabamba Llallagua Pocoata Aiquilecharango capital Potosí Sucre
Bolivia, 2022 · two months of research in the birthplace of the instrument.

I had been exploring the charango since I was young, and the call of the Altiplano became impossible to ignore. In 2022 I travelled across the country in search of the instrument’s origins. That journey gave birth to my first album.

2022 · Bolivia

For two months I travelled through Potosí, Sucre, Llallagua, Pocoata, Aiquile — the charango capital — Cochabamba, La Paz and Oruro. I spent time with master charango players, luthiers and local artists, and meeting the tradition first-hand let me understand the instrument in its deepest context, in its Quechua and Aymara roots.

In Potosí I met Cristóbal Corso, a charango player with the Potosí branch of the Sociedad del Charango, who took me to Canal Sitel: an interview on the morning show, broadcast live across the country. In Sucre, Willy Ríos opened the doors of his home to me and advised me to look for my charango with Waldo Panozo, in Cochabamba.

There I met Waldo and visited Alfredo Coca at his home: we played together and he taught me some of his techniques. In Aiquile I met the teacher of the Escuela de Charangos, a direct disciple of Mauro Núñez. And in La Paz, Juan Achá received me in his office, along with other luthiers and teachers.

2023 · “Charango”

That is how Charango was born, my first solo album, recorded at Estudio Madreselva with engineer Alfonso Pérez: instrumental works and original songs, with the charango at the centre. I premiered it to a full house at the Sala Máster of the Universidad de Chile, with my teachers Raimundo Santander and Freddy Torrealba and my colleague José Vinot.

Bruno Meschi plays the charango and looks to one side; the woven strap flies towards the headstock
Photo: Ainna

Before the journey

I started playing the guitar at 12 and then discovered the charango thanks to Sergio Bugueño, who ran a workshop on the instrument at my school, the Liceo Experimental Manuel de Salas. Through those lessons and on my own, I took my first steps as a charango player. I have always played both instruments, but it was through the charango that I found my own voice; the guitar is always close by, alongside my flutes. Then came the teachers: charango with Ítalo Pedrotti and Freddy Torrealba; singing, guitar and composition with various teachers.

Writing

I studied composition with Pablo Aranda and Aliocha Solovera at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (2014–2016 and 2022–2024), where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Music, specialising in Composition. There I also studied counterpoint, harmony, functional piano, solfège and rhythmic and aural dictation, the latter among the most demanding parts of my training. Today I live in Barcelona, where the path continued with the Master’s in Music Management and Production at ESMUC.

  • Bruno Meschi takes a bow on the stage of the Sala Máster as the audience applauds
  • In black and white, Bruno Meschi puts his hands together to thank the audience at the Sala Máster
  • Bruno Meschi sings standing at the centre of the stage, accompanied by three musicians
  • In black and white, two musicians play on the Sala Máster stage during the premiere
  • In black and white, Bruno Meschi walks across the stage as the audience applauds
  • In black and white, a photographer captures the concert from the side of the stage
Premiere of “Charango” · Sala Máster, Universidad de Chile, 2023. Full house.

I add singing to the charango and compose my own repertoire. My music is in dialogue with the Andean tradition, classical music, contemporary music and jazz.

What I do today

Four sides of a single craft

Bruno Meschi plays the charango with the woven strap over his shoulder, looking to one side

Composer

I write original music for internationally award-winning documentaries and my own repertoire for charango, from solo instrument to orchestra.

  • Un matrimonio feliz (2019, dir. Antonio Zagal): 1st prize, the Golden Castle, at the OFF Cinema festival in Poznań, Poland.
  • Sumaq Warmi (2022, Fundación MUSOL): original pieces for solo charango.
  • A work for charango and orchestra under review for the shortlist of the Luis Advis National Competition (2026).
Bruno Meschi plays a round-bodied charango, his eyes on the strings

Performer and singer-songwriter

I play and sing with the charango on stages in Chile and Europe, solo or alongside other musicians.

  • Sala Máster (Universidad de Chile), Teatro Municipal de La Florida and Teatro Novedades, in Chile.
  • Tradicionarius and Casa Luthier, in Barcelona.
  • Charango player in Luis Advis’s symphony “Los Tres Tiempos de América” (2023).
Bruno Meschi smiles as he plays the transverse flute, looking upwards

Cultural manager and music producer

I self-manage albums, concerts and fundraising campaigns: from idea to studio, and from studio to stage.

  • Self-managed Charango and its premiere, with a crowdfunding campaign.
  • I produced or co-produced 9 of the 18 documented concerts.
  • Master’s in Music Management and Production, ESMUC (Barcelona).
Bruno Meschi smiles as he looks at his light-topped, inlaid charango

Teacher

I have been teaching charango, guitar, composition and self-management for more than a decade, in person and online, adapted to each person.

  • Performance, composition, harmony, theory and improvisation.
  • Students of different ages and backgrounds, in Chile and in Europe.
Private lessons and booking

Career · milestone by milestone

The road travelled

The milestones of each year, from my first studies onwards, and the concerts between 2022 and 2026, in Chile and Spain. Since 2019, every milestone is documented in the press or on video. Hover over each concert to see its poster enlarged.

I am trained in both written and oral music: I read and write scores, and I also work from oral transmission.

  1. 2008

    First, the guitar

    At 12 he starts playing the guitar: classical guitar and music reading lessons with Ignacio Verdugo (2008–2010).

  2. 2010

    Meeting the charango

    He discovers the charango thanks to Sergio Bugueño, who ran a workshop on the instrument at his school, the Liceo Experimental Manuel de Salas (2010–2013). Through those lessons and on his own he takes his first steps as a charango player, and later joins the school’s instrumental ensemble.

  3. 2014

    Composition at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

    Began studying composition with Pablo Aranda and Aliocha Solovera (2014–2016 and 2022–2024), with counterpoint, harmony, functional piano, solfège and rhythmic and aural dictation, the latter among the most demanding parts of his training.

  4. 2015

    Lessons with Freddy Torrealba

    Private charango lessons with Freddy Torrealba (2015–2016).

  5. 2016

    Ítalo Pedrotti and Charangos del Mundo

    • Private charango lessons with Ítalo Pedrotti.
    • Takes part in the Charangos del Mundo gathering in Rosario (Argentina), reported in Trova Andina.
    • First video online: “Marca”, charango.

    Trova AndinaWatch the first video

  6. 2019

    Original score for Un matrimonio feliz

    Antonio Zagal’s documentary wins 1st prize, the Golden Castle, at the OFF Cinema festival (Poznań, Poland) and joins the official selection of SANFIC 15.

    BioBioChile

  7. 2022

    Charango research trip to Bolivia

    • Potosí, Sucre, Llallagua, Pocoata, Aiquile, Cochabamba, La Paz and Oruro.
    • Original music for the documentary Sumaq Warmi, a Spanish production (en-Transición Social Films for the MUSOL Foundation) on gender-based violence in Raqaypampa, Bolivia.

    Interview on Canal Sitel, Potosí

    Concerts that year

    • “Vidita Vay Cantar”, with Pablojarasca and Alfilera

      Casa Talaveras · Ñuñoa, Chile

      With Pablo Joaquín, Alfonsina García, Nicolás Nazar and Fabián Páramo. Produced by Bruno Meschi.

  8. 2023

    Charango, to a full house

    • The album Charango (Estudio Madreselva) and its premiere to a full house at the Sala Máster of the Universidad de Chile.
    • Review in Trova Andina (Argentina).

    Trova AndinaWatch the premiere concert

    Concerts that year

    • Luis Advis’s symphony “Los Tres Tiempos de América”

      Municipal theatres of La Pintana, Cerrillos and La Florida · Chile

      With Annie Murath, Nelson Vinot, Fernanda Mosqueda, Felipe Valdés, Magi Rust, Camila Vaccaro, Ramiro Durán, Gonzalo Ramos, Flavio Alekos, Tania Painemal, Rodrigo Rojas and Pancho Craddock. Produced by Taller Popular Merquén.

    • Premiere of the album “Charango”

      Sala Máster, Universidad de Chile · Providencia, Chile

      With Freddy Torrealba, Raimundo Santander and José Vinot. Produced by Bruno Meschi and Sala Máster.

    • 50 Years in Memory

      Aula Magna, Liceo Experimental Manuel de Salas · Ñuñoa, Chile

      With Isabel Parra, Tita Parra, Los Curacas, Isabel Aldunate and Juan Meriño. Produced by the Manuel de Salas alumni committee, classes of 1970–1974.

    • Festival in memory of Alejandro Ávalos

      Campus Oriente, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile · Providencia, Chile

      With Sol y Lluvia, Grupo Remembranza and Andrés Viviani Quinteto. Produced by FEUC and the UC Memory and Human Rights Collective.

    • Pre-launch of the album “Charango”

      Torre de Orión · El Quisco, Valparaíso Region, Chile

      With a local group. Produced by Bruno Meschi.

  9. 2024

    Charango arrives in Barcelona

    Bachelor’s degree in Music, specialising in Composition, at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

    Watch the concert at Estudi Rosazul

    Concerts that year

    • Juliette Robles, Josemaría Moure and Bruno Meschi

      Espai Ku · Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, Spain

      With Juliette Robles (Spain) and Josemaría Moure (Chile); guest artist: Fabián Durán. Produced by Bruno Meschi.

    • Bruno Meschi presents “Charango”

      Estudi Rosazul · Sant Martí, Barcelona, Spain

      Solo concert, recorded in full. Produced by Bruno Meschi and Rosazul.

    • Micro Obert de Rodautors

      Sala New Fizz · Eixample, Barcelona, Spain

      With Rakelarre, Rebeca Soul, Sergi Boal, Nacho Pagán, Julio Ponce and Arnau Prats. Produced by Rodautors.

    • Freddy Torrealba and Bruno Meschi

      Espacio Incluir · Ñuñoa, Chile

      With Freddy Torrealba. Produced by Bruno Meschi and Espacio Incluir.

    • Bruno Meschi in concert

      Casa Talaveras · Ñuñoa, Chile

      Solo concert. Produced by Bruno Meschi.

  10. 2025

    Chilean composers, La Florida and Barcelona

    • “Chincol”, composed and selected for Autores Chilenos Vol. III by the Sociedad Chilena del Charango.
    • Coverage by BioBioChile and El Mostrador of the 8th Encuentro de Charango y Otras Hierbas.
    • Began the Master’s at ESMUC, Barcelona.

    Sociedad Chilena del CharangoBioBioChileEl Mostrador

    Concerts that year

    • 8th Encuentro de Charango y Otras Hierbas

      Teatro Municipal de La Florida · Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile

      With Agustina Gómez and Ximena Antonio (Argentina), Luciel Izumi (Bolivia), Naysha Montes (Peru), Johan Lema (Ecuador) and the duo Fique y Maíz (Colombia); for Chile, Fernanda Mosqueda and Felipe Valdés (Sankara) and the duo of Maite Espinosa and José Escobedo. Produced by Taller Popular Merquén.

    • Camila y Silvio · guest

      Casa Talaveras · Ñuñoa, Chile

      With Camila Soria and Silvio Rozzi. Produced by Bruno Meschi.

    • Festival Los puntos sobre las i

      Plaza San Judas Tadeo · Peñalolén, Chile

      With Dunsmore, Eklipsa, Natalia Arias, Kiñewen, Hakari Piwke, Grupo Chequen, Hualle, Sereia Dúo and Murga La Lucha. Produced by Imagina and Radio Tres Puntos.

    • La Gran Noche del Charango

      Teatro Novedades · Santiago, Chile

      With Sereia Dúo and Franco Silva. Produced by the Sociedad Chilena del Charango.

    • De Kiruza Trío, Milena Antonia and Bruno Meschi

      Casa Talaveras · Ñuñoa, Chile

      With Pedro Foncea, Sebastián Almarza, Milena Antonia, Kimberly Richards and Benjamín Serey. Produced by Bruno Meschi.

  11. 2026

    A work for orchestra in the Luis Advis Competition

    • A work for charango and orchestra submitted to the Luis Advis National Competition, a highly prestigious national composition award; currently under review for the shortlist.
    • “Chincol”, recorded and mastered for Autores Chilenos Vol. III, soon to be released.

    Concerts that year

    • Launch of the book “150 canciones y un poema” by Jorge Leiva

      Centre Artesà Tradicionarius · Gràcia, Barcelona, Spain

      Not on the programme: a spontaneous, on-the-spot invitation to play for Amanda Jara, Víctor Jara’s daughter, during the conversation with Jorge Leiva, Patricia Navarrete and Verónica Dávalos. Produced by Tradicionarius – Fundación Víctor Jara · Te recuerdo Víctor series, Barcelona 2026.

    • Casa Luthier · guest charango player

      Casa Luthier, Cicle d’Hivern 2026 · Barcelona, Spain

      With Dúo Cotinga: Tiago Almeida and Lorenzo Reggiani, Swiss classical guitarists. Produced by Casa Luthier / Tiago Almeida.

What the media say

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Contact

Bookings, collaborations, press or lessons. Based in Barcelona, available for tours in Europe.

Email

bameschi@uc.cl
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