Paco Díaz was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where he began his musical studies in percussion and piano. He continued his percussion studies in Seville, Madrid and Amsterdam, receiving his soloist diploma with Cum Laude distinction.
In 1990 he was invited by the University of Michigan (USA) to work under the direction of Michael Udow. His principal teachers were P. Vicedo, J. Benet, P. Prommel, J. Pustjens, J. Labordus, and J. Gordon.He also participated in masterclasses with (among others) Peter Sadlo, Gary Burton,
F. Epstein, Emmanuel Sejourne and L.H. Stevens.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, the New Percussion Group of Amsterdam, at the Gaudeamus Festival, and with ensembles around Spain, as well as in the US, Germany, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.
As an orchestra musician he has performed with the Cadaqués Orchestra, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, RTVE Orchestra, National Orchestra of Spain and the Royal Orchestra of Seville, among others.
Paco Diaz is also very active as a professor of different courses throughout Spain, has taught in Latin America and Germany, and was also director of the four editions of the International Masterclass “Villa de Adeje”, Tenerife. He has also worked with the youth orchestras of Andalusia, Madrid, and Murcia, as well as the National Youth Orchestra of Spain.
In 1998 together with Charlie Llacer he founded the TUÓPALI DÚO with whom he has performed numerous concerts and tours both nationally and internationally.
Paco Díaz is currently the solo Timpanist of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra and percussion professor at the Conservatory of Music of the Canary Islands. Since 2010 he is director of the Contemporary Music Festival of Tenerife. Paco Diaz uses Schlagkraft Mallets exclusively.
