With roots in the flamenco-rich culture of Southern Spain and a career spanning classical, contemporary, and jazz music, Ángela Varo Moreno brings her unique perspective to the Andover music community. A jazz violin instructor and supervisor to the Andover-Lawrence Strings program, she combines technical precision with confident improvisation and pushes the boundaries of violin.
Varo Moreno grew up in a rural part of Southern Spain in a home where music was fused into her everyday life. Influenced by her dad, a music educator, and the role of music in her family’s culture, she was immersed in flamenco from an early age. This upbringing encouraged her to embrace music education as a passion.
“My dad founded the music school in my town, so I was able to receive a proper music education, even in this small town called Baena. We’re from a Romani, Andalusia [and] Dominican background, so music is deeply embedded in our culture. Music education there is not glorified, it’s more organic. It becomes part of everyday life, like the way we cook or talk. I learned flamenco and music by simply being around my grandma and mom, listening to singing, dancing, and being involved in music [as] part of the family,” said Varo Moreno.
Varo Moreno’s teaching philosophy is shaped by the values of mentorship and bonding, something she was first exposed to through her family. As a private lesson instructor at Andover, she approaches teaching with a mindset toward bonding and nurturing creativity. She strives to encourage her students to express themselves through music.
“When I came to the United States six years ago, I was lucky enough to be mentored by incredible people who opened my eyes and hearts… These people have defined for me what the role of a mentor is. They showed me the power of music, community, and how change happens through that. That’s what I try to bring to my students at [Andover]. It’s not about me being the teacher or an authority figure. It’s about working together, building relationships, and helping them find confidence and fall in love with jazz. I feel deeply connected to my heritage, and I work hard to ensure my voice is heard. That’s something I pass on to my students: if you work hard and stay true to yourself, you can achieve anything,” said Varo Moreno.
Alongside private lessons, Varo Moreno assists in the Andover-Lawrence Strings Youth Development Program, where Andover students teach various stringed instruments to children from Lawrence. Watching the instructors collaborate and form bonds with each other has been a defining experience for her. Further, sharing a similar cultural background with many of the students from Lawrence allowed her to find a connection in her guidance.
“It’s been amazing to see both students from [Andover] and the kids from Lawrence. It’s developing not only a teacher-student relationship but [also helps] the students build relationships with the kids. Some of them have become like older siblings to the kids from Lawrence, and it’s just such a pleasure to help people fall more and more in love with music. Many of the kids are Latinos, and I’m Hispanic as well, so having that connection is nice for them to see someone close to them as their teacher. It’s been beautiful to get to know the kids and their backgrounds, and to help them grow,” said Varo Moreno.
While the violin is not considered a frontline instrument in jazz, Varo Moreno emphasizes that it is important to work hard and overcome the challenges of not fitting in. While brass such as trumpet and trombones may receive more recognition as “frontline” jazz instruments, Varo Moreno believes that the violin choice can bring a new and unique sound to jazz.
“I love the violin, it’s been a huge part of my life. When you think of jazz, a lot of people forget about violinists like Stéphane Grappelli, who were incredibly important. There’s a bit of stigma around the violin in jazz; people don’t always see it as a frontline instrument. I joke with my colleagues that I’m not a horn player, but I don’t want to be seen just as a string player either. I want to be considered the same as a horn player, but there are also things I do that horn players can’t. Over time, I’ve realized that everything in life is about love, action, and time. If you work hard, you can overcome any challenges, no matter what instrument you play,” said Varo Moreno.
Over the course of her musical career, Varo Moreno has studied classical music, jazz music, contemporary production, and composition. Through support from scholarships and mentors, she has had the opportunity to tour, perform with different ensembles, and record with other artists. Currently, she is working on releasing her own music, infused with her personal story.
“My album is coming out soon. It’s called ‘Dançâ del Aire’ and it will be released on the first day of spring, March 20. I have a couple of singles coming before that — one on February 28, and another on March 9. I’m doing it with a label called Habitable Records and it’s a reflection of what it means to carry my culture over my shoulders… my family’s story, how my culture connects with other cultures, and the pleasure [of being] with friends. It’s full of flamenco and jazz influences, and I’m really excited about it,” said Varo Moreno.
