My Musical Journey

Hello! I am Alis Cruces, a musician and music teacher from Güigüe, Carabobo State. I currently reside in Valencia, Venezuela, where I continue my artistic and educational work.

My passion for music began at the age of 6, when I had the fortune of training with maestros Maximiliano Rebolledo and Orlando Castro. I was part of the Carlota Fuentes Estudiantina in Güigüe and the Luis Ernesto Quintero Estudiantina in Carabobo.

I graduated with a degree in Music Education from the University of Carabobo and further refined my cuatro soloist studies at the Simón Bolívar Music Conservatory under the guidance of maestro Carlos Capacho.

Currently, I am the musical director of the Alma Llanera Regional Orchestra of Carabobo, part of the National Orchestra System, and I also teach online classes while creating digital content about Venezuelan music, the cuatro, the bandola llanera, and the mandolin.

As a cuatro player, I am a member of the group Compasses, with which I have had the honor of performing on national and international stages in countries such as China, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Australia, Colombia, Macao, and Bolivia. In 2020, along with Compasses, we recorded the album 'Sotavento', which was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards and the Pepsi Music Awards. You can learn more about the nomination on the official Latin Grammy website: view nomination here.

My Achievements

• 1st Place at the Festival of New Cuatro Performers, Caracas 2012
• 1st Place as best cuatro player at the 'El Silbón' Llanera Music Festival 2010 and 2012
• 1st Place at the San Martín de los Llanos International Tourism Festival 2012
• 1st Place as best cuatro player at the International Joropo Tournament, Villavicencio 2013
• 2nd Place for best original cuatro solo composition at the International Joropo Tournament, Villavicencio 2017 and 2018
• 1st Place at the International Festival 'La Siembra del Cuatro' 2017

These achievements represent my dedication and love for Venezuelan music, and I am excited to continue sharing this legacy with you.

For more information, visit my Wikipedia page.

Compasses: Blending Tradition and Innovation

Compasses is a Venezuelan music group founded in 2008, which went viral in 2009 thanks to a video where they were dubbed the 'Venezuelan Dream Theater,' receiving praise from keyboardist Jordan Rudess. They have performed live in Damascus, Beirut, China, Australia, Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, and other countries. In 2020, they released the album 'Sotavento,' produced by two-time Latin Grammy winner Jean Sánchez under the EBD Records label. Currently, Compasses continues to innovate and create new music, expanding their sound and exploring new frontiers in the fusion of traditional and contemporary music.