Luciel Izumi
Luciel Izumi is a Bolivian charango player, composer and teacher who brings Andean folk music into conversation with jazz, funk, rock and cumbia.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Luciel’s team an official invite.
🔒 Star boosts open once Luciel claims this page.
Latest
Luciel’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- From
- Born in La Paz and raised in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
- Instrument
- Charango
- Work
- Composer, instrumentalist, session musician and charango teacher.
- Band
- Leads the Luciel Izumi Quartet.
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in La Paz and raised in Cochabamba, Luciel fell for the charango after seeing William Centellas perform at Teatro Achá. Her brother bought her an instrument and paid for lessons. She later combined her folk roots with the rock she loved at school and a growing interest in jazz.
Finding her audience.
Luciel told Los Tiempos that posting videos on Facebook and other social networks helped her career grow. She also shares charango tutorials. Her session work reached listeners of Bonny Lovy’s Cumbia boliviana in 2021: the opening charango is hers.
A voice of her own.
Alongside solo recordings, she leads her quartet and teaches charango. She has spoken openly about prejudice against women instrumentalists and her wish to keep the instrument at the centre of the show. In 2023, she joined Bonny Lovy, Chila Jatun and Lu de la Tower on Juntos Sonamos Más Fuerte, which won Best Collaboration of the Year at the Bolivia Music Awards.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 20253 AM, Estef OcampoFeatured artist
- 2023Juntos Sonamos Más FuerteCollaborating artist and co-composer
- 2021Cumbia boliviana, Bonny LovyCharango
- 2019TsukiSolo artist and composer
- 2017Un Mismo SuspirarSolo artist; digital album release
- 2012EmocionesSolo artist
Awards
Quotes
Quiero mostrar el charango, que el protagonismo sea el charango y las manos de una mujer que lo interpretenLuciel Izumi, Revista OH! / Los Tiempos
In a January 2025 interview, she explained why she puts the instrument and women’s musicianship at the centre of her performances.
Trivia
- She studied commercial engineering before focusing her working life on music.
- As a teenager, she worked out Kiss songs on the charango.
- She named jazz singer Cyrille Aimée as an inspiration for her stage style.
- She has named Matilde Casazola, Luzmila Carpio and Llajtaymanta among the Bolivian musicians she enjoys.
Find Luciel
Follow Luciel for charango performances, lessons and concert news.
Are you Luciel Izumi?
Fans built this page. Claim it to connect with them and unlock Star boosts, or request a takedown if you’d rather it not exist.