Fidel Zaldumbide Flores (Quito, Ecuador, 1993) is a versatile composer, performer and educator whose work is characterized by artistic expressiveness, a strong commitment to contemporary music, and active pedagogical engagement in Latin America and Europe.

He began his musical studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Ecuador at the age of twelve, studying with renowned teachers such as Mónica Navas, Andrés Carrera, Luis Fernando Banderas, Patricia Ochoa, and Patricio Villamar Falcony. In 2013 he received a scholarship to attend the Yamaha Sounds of Summer Camp at the University of Central Florida (USA), participating in masterclasses with Jeff Moore, Ney Rosauro, Kirk Gay, and Thad Anderson.

Zaldumbide completed his studies in Ecuador in 2017, graduating as a Technician and Music Technologist from the National Conservatory and simultaneously earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. He continued his education in Germany, completing a Master’s degree in Classical Percussion at the Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg with Prof. Radoslaw Szarek in 2019.

His artistic work has received international recognition. In 2018 he was awarded second prize in the Vibraphone category of the Italy Percussion Competition (Italy Percussive Arts Society) with his own composition Donny’s Dog, marking the beginning of his work as a composer and promoter of new repertoire for marimba and vibraphone. In 2021 he released his first album Entre dos Mundos, featuring original works for solo, duo, quartet, and ensemble formations.

Since 2019 Zaldumbide has served as a classical percussion instructor with the Stadtorchester Roth (Germany), where he directs artistic and pedagogical projects. In 2024 he successfully assumed the artistic direction of the third Rother Schlagzeugfestival. His students have earned recognition in competitions, including a second prize at the regional Jugend Musiziert competition (Category IIb, 2025).

As a composer and performer, Zaldumbide remains active internationally. His works have been presented in Latin America, Asia, and Europe, connecting Latin American traditions with contemporary musical expression and reflecting a distinctive artistic identity that bridges cultures through the language of percussion. He remains committed to supporting musical development in Ecuador through masterclasses, workshops, and intercultural initiatives, contributing to the strengthening of Latin American percussion repertoire and the cultivation of young talent.