Guitar virtuoso, composer, bandleader, educator and recording artist, Javier Rosario (He/Him/His) is the first ever Michel Camilo Scholarship winner. The scholarship was an initiative of the Dominican born, Grammy, Latin Grammy and Emmy Award winning pianist. It has been the first scholarship of its kind in the history of the Dominican Republic, where Javier was born in Santo Domingo. In 2006, Javier attended Berklee College of Music with full scholarship, graduating with the highest ratings ever given to a guitarist. In 2009, he performed at the Berklee Jazz and Blues Guitar Night: a concert which only featured the very top players of the entire school. In 2010, Javier decided to further his studies at the Longy School of Music of Bard College with a master’s degree. There he was awarded a Presidential Scholarship, Music Ambassador Assistantship, Music Experiential Education Assistantship and was acknowledged by his guitar teachers as possibly the highest-level guitarist ever to enter the jazz program.

Among some of the musicians Javier has performed with are: Joe Lovano, John Lockwood, Matt Savage, Zachary King, Scott Kiefner, Aaron Holthus, Avery Logan, Bob Edinger, Vardan Ovsepian, Jeff Galindo, Phil Grenadier, Bret Willmott, Hoo Kim, James Heazlewood Dale, Evan Waaramaa, just to name a few. Javier has performed at Blue Note in New York City, Casa de Teatro Jazz Festival, A-Town Jazz Festival, Strand Theater, Massachusetts’ State House, Cornelia Street Cafe, St. Botolph Club, Berklee Performance Center, Pianos NYC, Shrine World Music Venue, Silvana, Port City Blue, Riverwalk Cafe & Music Bar, Radio Bean Jazz Fest, Thunder Road, Tonic, Community Music Center of Boston’s Fête de la Musique, just to name a few. Javier is a guitar Adjunct Faculty member at Bunker Hill Community College, guitar/ukulele/early childhood faculty member at Community Music Center of Boston, ukulele faculty member at Passim School of Music, guitar/ukulele/early childhood faculty member at Amigos School and Morse School in Massachusetts. In the Spring of 2021, Javier became a Community Engagement Programs Teaching Artist at Community Music Center of Boston and Boston Collegiate Charter School. In late June 2021, Javier received the Community Music Center of Boston Marilla MacDill Award for Teaching Excellence and Community Service. Javier has been a Visiting Professor at the National Conservatory of Music since 2009 and a Visiting Artist at UNPHU or Universidad Pedro Henriquez Ureña since 2021 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

In late December of 2019, Javier released his debut album Javier Rosario Trio, Vol. I: A Celebration of Life which has been nationally and internationally reviewed. Javier’s music has been played on the radio in the Dominican Republic and NHPR New Hampshire Public Radio, All Things Considered with Peter Biello: NHPR Summer Music Series Kicks Off With A Few Recommendations.

“Javier Rosario was my first scholarship winner at Berklee College of Music and I am delighted to see that he has blossomed into a creative artist with a refined guitar technique and an extensive knowledge of the jazz idiom. He is a young talent that is contributing to the multi-cultural richness and diversity of our jazz community.” —Grammy, Latin Grammy and Emmy Award winning pianist, Michel Camilo

“…expresses a desire and an urgency pushed towards the new, towards an innovation of language coherent with the giants of the Gibson 335. Bravo!” —Andrea Aguzzi, NeuGuitars

“Amazing, virtuosic, dynamic, impeccable and powerful guitar playing.” —Best Guitarist by Down Beat Critics’ Poll, Joe Morris

“Guitarist Javier Rosario goes both electric and acoustic on this muscular and musical collection of originals in a trio format with drummer Zak King and bassist Scott Kiefner. As palpable as Rosario’s tone is while plugged in for the trio format, his solo material is tender and patient. The combination of assertive trio and impressionistic unplugged moments makes for rewarding listening for jazz guitar fans and aficionados.” —George W. Harris, editor at Jazz Weekly

“Ghost Town is a powerful opening tune, where the bandleader interweaves expressive voice leading, pungent chords, and crystalline harmonics with unflinching confidence. Following a clearly pronounced bass solo, Rosario plunges into a distorted metal-like spiral, whose broad dirty sound evolves until reaching the tidal chordal washes that conclude the piece.” —Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail Writer

“Another fantastic local artist’s name is Javier Rosario, and I know him mostly because my friend Scott plays in his band. He is nominally a jazz guitar player, but his influences tell a much more interesting story. The compositions are absolutely incredible. I really haven’t heard someone so young play jazz guitar like this.” —Stu Dias on NHPR All Things Considered with Peter Biello: NHPR Summer Music Series Kicks Off With A Few Recommendations

“Javier Rosario has a formidable technique and command of the guitar. He is a highly skilled performer with a bright future ahead of him.” —Dr. Stephen Anderson, D.M.A. Professor, Composition and Jazz Studies Director of Jazz Studies at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

“It is not common for a guitar player who is so well-versed in jazz to have hybrid picking and legato chops that drop rock guitarists jaws.” —Justin Tolan, winner of Steve Vai’s “Best in Shred” contest for Atlanta “….the entrance of Javier Rosario, young guitarist, a promise of American jazz.” —Andrea Aguzzi, NeuGuitars