Jose Manuel Cachimuel (Manicho)

Visionary father of the young men of YARINA, Jose was inspired to raise his children from a very early age to study, embrace and wholeheartedly perform the traditional music of the native cultures of the Andes. A former dedicated and active member of various Indigenous organizations working to reclaim the culture and political, rights of the native peoples of Ecuador, Jose now divides his time between the United States and Ecuador, overseeing the successful musical, artistic and native crafts family businesses of YARINA.

Rimay Cachimuel

Eldest son of the Cachimuel family, Rimay left his native Ecuador at the age of 20 to travel through Europe, Holland and Korea, playing and studying traditional music with a variety of Andean musical groups. One of the founders of YARINA, his versatile, inquisitive and playful musical style is a reflection of both his own personality and professional expertise. Rimay, also an artist and painter, divides his time between his family in Ecuador and YARINA’s musical endeavors here in the United States.

Manuel Cachimuel

Manuel is one the founding and active members of Yarina. A very well focused musician, he was the first of the group to formally study music in Ecuador under the direction of a variety of instructors and educational programs at the Conservatorio de Musica Sacra, Quito Ec. His understanding of Andean music, styles and technique is artfully expressed on guitar, charango, kenas, rondador, sampoñas, bandolin and mandolin.

Roberto Cachimuel

Musician, composer, entrepreneur, and spokesperson for YARINA, Roberto left Ecuador at the age 14 to travel with his brothers and perform music in the neighboring country of Colombia (Cali) then to Italy (Milan and Rome) before settling in Boston, MA in 1991. From the earliest ages of childhood, he developed his musical knowledge through self-teaching all traditional strings and wind instruments. His formal musical studies began as a junior at the Somerville High School String Orchestra instructed by Ms. Rita Ranucci. For his achievement at the High School, Roberto was awarded with a four-semester tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA. His studies include violin and composition. Intense, emotional, expressive and imaginative in performance, his hypnotic musical expression is a most captivating feature of the group’s interfacing with the audience.

Making his home in New York City with his wife and child, Roberto travels annually to Ecuador for concerts and performances. Additionally he has recorded and performed with well known artists like: Marta Gomez, Raul Midon, Alex Alvear, Michel Gonzalez, Franco Pinna, Andres Rotmistrovsky, Sofia Tosello. His commitment to music will continue to enhance YARINA’s steady and ongoing success.

Ati Cachimuel

Ati’s musical career begins as a child when he learned to play the guitar and flutes from his older brothers. He dedicated his time to practice his main instrument (guitar) to join YARINA in 1997. His studies include at the Instituto de Musica Luis Ulpiano de la Torre in Cotacachi Ec, Franz List Conservatory, Conservatorio Nacional de Quito and presently attending Universidad San Francisco de Quito Ec. Ati has performed with the Orquesta de Instrumentos Andinos and has participated composing songs for the Ecuadorian Documentary Film “Sara la Espantapajaros” He presently composes and performs YARINA’s latest music.

Curi Cachimuel

A skilled and innovative musician, Inti has studied music at Instituto de Musica Luis Ulpiano de la Torre in Cotacachi, he is a virtuoso on flutes, strings and electronic music. His performances include with the Orquesta de Istrumentos Andinos, Ec. Inti participated recording the music for the Ecuadorian Documentary Film “Sara la Espantapajaros” as well as composing electronic music for the Andean Hip-Hop Project LOS NIN in Ecuador. He adds a more contemporary style of music to YARINA. His instruments include: drums, sampoñas, kenas, rondador, guitar and charango.

Rumiñahui Cachimuel

Rumi studied music theory and majored in classical orchestra and solo flute. A member of Yarina since 1992, he previously performed with the Andean Instruments Symphony Orchestra of Imbabura, Ecuador. He plays the bass, guitar, pallas, kenacho, sampoñas, mandolin, and charango. He is also a vocalist and dancer.Rumi studied flute at the Instituto de Musica Luis Ulpiano de la Torre. He has received bass instructions from Luis Guzman.

Rumi a multi-instrumentalist artist, has performed with Mariela Condo, Daniel Mancero, Alex Alvear and Marta Gomez. He has also been part of the musical composition and acted as the leading music role for the Ecuadorian Documentary Film “Sara la Espantapajaros” His instruments include. bandolin, kenas, sampoñas, rondador, mandolin, charango, bass and voice.

Tupac Cachimuel

One of the younger members of the group, Tupac began playing music at the age of 12. He studied music at the Instituto de Musica Luis Ulpiano de la Torre. He is a self-taught and very versatile musician who plays: bandolin, mandolin, charango and bass and flutes. Hi is also one of the leading composers for the music performed by LOS NIN, an Andean Hip-Hop Project presently in Ecuador.

Yuriana Sobrino

Born in Veracruz, Mexico, at the age of six Yuriana became part of a children’s music group playing percussion and singing. A self-taught percussionist, Yuriana plays a wide range of Latin American instruments such as drums, congas, bongos, timbales, and Peruvian cajon, among many others. In the jazz field, she has developed a unique style as a drummer, which has allowed her to share her talent with many important artists including Bobby McFerrin, Gene Perla and Gabriel Hernandez. Yuriana has performed at many prestigious venues in Mexico including the Palacio de Bellas Artes with many of the most important music figures in the Mexican music industry. She has also toured in various music festivals in the US and Canada performing Latin American folklore with a project that includes her two brothers, which earned them great reputation and recognition. Through the Danilo Perez Foundation, Yuriana was awarded a full tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where she is currently a Performance major.

Ana Cachimuel

At an early age of 8, Ana started singing with YARINA. Through the dance movements she reflects the beauty and timelessness of her culture. As dancer, choreographer, and singer for YARINA she continues to create a not to be forgotten experience. Ana divides her professional life between performing with the group, offering dance workshops and designing women’s traditional clothing of her home country.

Kaya Cachimuel

Since her young age of 6, Kaya has been dancing and singing with YARINA actively. She has taken numerous workshops with well-known traditional dance instructors of Ecuador as well as studies in communications and journalism at the University of San Francisco, Quito Ec, Kaya joins YARINA for this performing season as a dancer, choreographer, and singer. Her warm presence and knowledge of traditional Andean dance adds a special touch to the group’s dance routines.

Additional Members

Saul Guaman: dancer and choreographer.
Kathy Cachimuel: dancer
Sumay Cachimuel: dancer
Gina Cachimuel: dancer
Michel Gonzalez: guitar
Alex Alvear: bass
Boris Acosta: keyboards