Welcome to the team behind Abbey Road Institute Miami!

We’ve handpicked industry experts and academics from all areas of the recording and music business. They bring a wealth of experience, expertise, skills and insider knowledge.  Their roles range from producers, engineers and musicians to A&R, marketing and management.  They include multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winners. Please meet the team behind our Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering.

Staff

Welcome to our Abbey Road Institute Miami academic team. Here you'll find more information about our regular lecturers and visiting industry experts.

Julio Reyes Copello

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Julio Reyes Copello

13 GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY awards, 48 nominations (including 5 nominations and 1 win for Producer of the Year), 15 Billboard chart topping songs, and more than 10 ASCAP awards are more than enough to show the tremendous impact Julio Reyes Copello has had on the Latin music industry through two decades.

It’s been 20 years since the Colombian producer decided to move to Miami, and he has had the opportunity to write, record, and produce songs and albums for several of the most influential artists in Europe (Alejandro Sanz, Malú, Pablo Alborán – Spain, Florent Pagny – France, Reamonn – Germany, Il Divo, Natasha Bedingfield – UK, Laura Pausini – Italy), United States (Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Alessia Cara, Will Smith), Canada (Nelly Furtado), and Latin America (Ricky Martin, Kany Garcia, Chayanne – Puerto Rico, Diego Torres – Argentina, Alexandre Pires – Brazil, Alejandro Fernandez, Thalia, Paulina Rubio – Mexico, Fonseca, Andrés Cepeda – Colombia, Mariana Vega – Venezuela).

His projects also include composing, arranging, and recording the soundtrack for the virtual experience MARS 2030 (NASA, Fusion, and N-Vidia), conducting and recording the London Symphony Orchestra twice, and writing the soundtrack for the American TV series Hawthorne (produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Sony Pictures), producing and arranging the music for the visit of Pope Francis to Colombia in 2017, as well as writing his pieces for piano.

Julio Reyes Copello found his passion for music at an early age. He studied at the Javeriana University in Bogota, where he was also a professor, and later was awarded a full scholarship from the University of Miami to obtain a Master’s degree in Media Writing & Production, where he held the position of Teaching Assistant, graduating with honors. In 2000, producer Jorge Calandrelli chose him to work on orchestrating the songs included in the Christmas in Vienna album, “Our Favorite Things,” with Plácido Domingo, Tony Bennett, Vanessa Williams, Charlotte Church, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Ever since, Reyes Copello has only garnered ascending success and respect, which have made him one of the busiest producers in the market today.

In 2013, Julio Reyes Copello established his recording studio – Miami Art House – which has become his workplace and a breeding ground for some of the essential artists in the region. The space is an open creative society in which several artists, instrumentalists, and songwriters get together to write, arrange, and produce new music without distinction of sex, age, or ethnicity.

Determined to discover and support new music talent, Julio Reyes Copello founded Art House Records, a record label focused on developing the skills and careers of honest and talented musicians, including to date Brika, BOGART, the 4-time Latin GRAMMY nominee Paula Arenas, the Latin GRAMMY winners Juan Pablo Vega and Mariana Vega, among others. Julio Reyes Copello will undoubtedly continue to stamp his mark in the industry on a global scale, creating dreams with his music and inspiring a whole new generation of artists.

Camilo Salas

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Camilo Salas

Colombian composer, producer, and music educator. Camilo Salas obtained his bachelor’s degree in Commercial Music Composition with Honors from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana of Bogota, Colombia (2019). He also earned his Master of Music degree in Media Scoring and Production while serving as a Teaching Assistant at the prestigious Frost School of Music, University of Miami (2023).

Throughout his career, Salas has been recognized as a versatile producer whose repertoire includes Pop, Latin pop, Rock, Classical, folklore, and Urban Music. He currently works as a composer and producer for some American and international artists such as Andrea González Caballero (Spanish Classical Guitarist), David Vandelay (American Singer), Issa Raye (Colombian Singer), Claire Delić (Dutch Singer), Lola Astanova, among others. In addition, Camilo has played leading roles as the music producer of massive entertainment events such as the India Catalina Awards, Miss Colombia Contest, Christmas Wonderland, and Barranquilla’s Carnival, an event declared as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Salas has always contributed as both a producer and an educator. Since 2023, he has coordinated the Music Production area in the Frost Preparatory program where he recently created and developed a Music Production audio workshop for visually impaired musicians.

Nicolás Ramírez

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Nicolás Ramírez

Latin GRAMMY Winning and GRAMMY-nominated mixing and recording engineer, Musician and Sound Supervisor, Nicolás Ramírez graduated in Audio Engineering at Pontifica Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. He then obtained his Master in Fine Arts in Sound Design from Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, United States.

Nicolas is currently working as head Mixing and Recording Engineer at Art House, GRAMMY-award winner Julio Reyes Copello’s studio, and as Live Sound Engineer for Camilo. He has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Marc Anthony, Alejandro Sanz, Residente, Bad Bunny, Paula Arenas and Kany García, Ricardo Arjona, Samuel Torres, among others.

He has worked primarily on films, documentaries, TV series and animated series, both as a composer and sound designer. He believes in music and sound effects as one entity and is always looking for that special detail that creates a unique identity. Nicolas is a fan of cultures around the world and is always amazed by how the cultural background is represented in the music of each place.

Natalia Ramírez

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Natalia Ramírez

Latin GRAMMY-winning and GRAMMY-Nominated audio engineer, arts manager, and musician Natalia Ramírez graduated with honors in Audio Engineering at Pontifica Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. She then obtained her Master in Arts Presenting and Live Entertainment Management at the University of Miami where she was chosen for the “Frost School of Music Outstanding Graduate Student Award” in 2017. In 2018, she was nominated for 3 Latin GRAMMYs with Pablo Alborán’s album Prometo, and in 2019 for 4 other Latin GRAMMYs, winning in the category of “Record of the Year” with “Mi Persona Favorita” by Alejandro Sanz featuring Camila Cabello. Natalia Ramírez’s unwavering focus and capability to consistently achieve the highest standard in the recording industry has illustrated her career with the deserving reputation she carries.

Maria Josefina Acero

Administrator & Admissions

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Maria Josefina Acero

Administrator & Admissions

Maria J. Acero is a Producer and Project Manager with more that 25 years of experience in management, development, and TV production. She started her career in the Colombian Ministry of Culture producing cultural and social documentaries, working with distinguished documentary and film directors.

In 1993, Maria J. joined the Communications Team of the President of Colombia as Director of Television Affairs, where she was responsible for the President’s image, along with the coverage and coordination of his presidential addresses and media agenda. In 1998 she moved to Miami, where she continued creating content and developing also a career as researcher. She worked as researcher for an Educational Project at the University of Miami to develop the Spanish curriculum for an elementary school in Brownsville, Texas.

Maria J. has always been passionate about education and a fierce supporter of the Magnet Programs for middle and high School levels. This dedication was surely inherited from her late father, the founder of the prestigious Francisco de Paula Santander University, in the city of Cúcuta, Colombia. That is why, when she was called to be part of Art House Academy & Abbey Road Institute Miami, María J. decided it was time to apply her passion, as well her media and communications knowledge, to act as an Admission’s professional for the school, and make good use of her agreeable, communicative personality.

Glenda del Monte Escalante

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Glenda del Monte Escalante

Glenda (del E) del Monte Escalante is a multifaceted Afro Latin Soul musician, educator and artist from Cuba, who is passionate about being able to influence, inspire, motivate and stamp a positive footprint world with her music. Open to a variety of musical influences, from Classical piano repertoire and Cuban folklore to Hip-Hop, R&B and Jazz, del E has managed to establish herself as an extremely talented versatile musician amongst diverse music circles in Havana, Miami, Toronto and currently in NYC.

Del E has worked with various inspiring projects, such as Alejandro Sanz Band, Carnegie Hall Paquito de Rivera Workshop, the ASCAP Foundation, RBC Emerging Talent (Toronto Arts Council), Canada Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Toronto, York University, among others.

For the past years, del E has been leading the New Cuban Generation project and Q-ban Mixology.  In addition, Glenda has been an active music teacher holding her private studio, as well as teaching at York University (Canada), Yamaha Music School (Canada), Miami Conservatory of Music (Miami, USA), Piano School of NYC, Art Plaza Conservatory and Boys’ Club of New York, Let it Beat Music Academy.

Born Glenda del Monte Escalante in Havana, Cuba to musical parents, she started music school at age 7, when she started participating and winning local music competitions. In 1998, she moved to Toronto, Canada, to continue her high school studies and under scholarship classical training at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Instructed by John Alonso, she performed as a soloist accompanied by the Counterpoint Community Orchestra conducted by Terry Kowalczuc. Del E graduated from University of Toronto Faculty of Music Bachelor and holds a Master’s from York University, with both degrees in Piano Performance and concentrations in Music Education and Ethnomusicology.

Maria Elisa Ayerbe

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Maria Elisa Ayerbe

Maria Elisa Ayerbe is an audio engineer for GRAMMY and Latin Grammy-nominated albums, with more than 13 years of experience in recording, mixing, post-production, and music production. As a recording and mixing engineer, Maria Elisa has been part of the productions for artists such as Mary J Blige, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, JLo, Il Divo, Laura Pausini, Juanes, Kronos Quartet, Nashville Symphony, Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony, and many others.

In 2016 Maria Elisa created the independent label South Mountain Music, as a platform to develop and produce fresh music from upcoming and talented artists from Latin America. She is currently serving as Board Governor and Chair for the Producers and Engineering Wing of the Recording Academy, Florida Chapter.

Since 2007, Maria Elisa has worked as a university professor teaching several courses related to audio and music in Colombia, Tennessee, and Florida. She has moderated panels and discussions for Grammy U, Music Expo, IMSTA Fest, and The Recording Academy, among many others in past years.

Andres Recio

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Andres Recio

Andres Recio has worked for more than 25 years in the music industry as a talent manager, GRAMMY Award-winning executive producer, road manager and A&R. Current manager for Alessia Cara and super producer Julio Reyes Copello, he has also worked with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Alejandro Sanz, Ricky Martin, Juanes, Nelly Furtado, Paulina Rubio, Kat Dahlia, among many others; and, with his label 21 Sunshine, he has been involved in the guidance of creative direction of over 8 platinum-selling recording artists.

Andres is Co-founder of AR Solutions, a Digital Business Management Agency, created with his brother Alejandro Recio; A digital market research, real-time data monitoring, web design, web marketing, digital content strategies and search engine optimization company working for artists and companies such as Ricky Martin, P&G, Wisin, Samsung, Universal Music Latino, Marc Anthony, Juanes, Luis Fonsi, Live Nation, Jennifer Lopez, Ricardo Arjona and Nelly Furtado, among many others.

Having studied Music and Audio Engineering at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and International Business and Trade at FAU in Florida, he has linked both worlds of music and business to support and assist the careers of international superstars. Celebrating its 15th year anniversary, AR Solutions is one of the pioneers and leaders in the market, creating co-branding strategies for companies and celebrities; also in managing the online presence of companies, celebrities and digital celebrities.

Robin Reumers

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Robin Reumers

Robin Reumers is a mixing and mastering engineer, with an extensive background in education. After receiving his diploma in audio engineering, he immediately left for an traineeship in the U.S., and soon became the right hand of respected mastering engineer Bob Katz. He ended up working there for 3 years after which he moved back to Europe.

Prior to joining Abbey Road Institute, Robin was working as CTO at Galaxy Studios in Belgium. For 7 years he was responsible for the expansion of the studios and the technical maintenance in an increasingly digital world. He managed to keep Galaxy Studios cutting edge, in part thanks to the invention of the new Auro-3D format. Simultaneously Robin has been working in audio education for 9 years. Nowadays he is also director and product developer at his own plug-in company Leapwing Audio.

In 2019, he was nominated as mixing & mastering engineer for a Latin Grammy in 4 categories with 2 albums (including 2 Album of the year nominations): Paula Arenas’ Visceral and Alejandro Sanz’ #ELDisco. Alejandro’s album even went on to win a 2020 Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop album!

My goal is for aspiring producers, engineers and artists to learn by direct experience. To be thrown in the middle of actual professional recording sessions and learn by doing, is the most effective, honest and responsible way of acquiring the skills needed for a career in music. I aim to guide, educate and inspire the future generations of music professionals while staying fully involved and engaged in my work as a music producer for the most important and upcoming artists of the industry.

Julio Reyes Copello, Managing Director

You will never get a better opportunity to not only study in a beautiful studio but to be in a real scenario surrounded by the best in the music business. Get ready for what is coming for you, it will change your life.

Nicolás Ramírez, Lecturer

There is some real visionary foresight in Abbey Road Institute being established to preserve the cultural legacy of Abbey Road.

Youth (Paul McCartney, The Verve, Killing Joke)

The curriculum is fantastic, extremely comprehensive, contemporary and relevant to today’s industry.

Andrea Mastroiacovo, London Graduate 2018

Applying for the diploma was the best thing I could have done for my career. I'm really amazed at how much I learnt in one year.

Lizzie Arnold, London Graduate 2019

The course taught me what it means to be a producer and engineer in the industry, I learned things I couldn’t have learned anywhere else.

Marta Di Nozzi, London Graduate 2019