Born in Panama, Jafet Díaz Martin is a versatile trumpet player, educator, arranger, and social media content creator. He recently served as a trumpet fellow with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he held a position as a member of the Panama Municipal Symphonic Band. Jafet has also performed as a guest musician with the Palm Beach Symphony, Seraphic Fire, the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, and the Panama Jazz Festival Big Band.
In 2020, Jafet was a finalist in the Next Generation Trumpet Competition, and in 2023, he won first prize in the National Society of Arts and Letters (Florida Chapter) Piano and Brass Duo Competition. He has participated in international festivals and programs across several countries, including the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, National Music Festival, Miami Music Festival, and the Chosen Vale International Summer Festival in the United States; the International Trumpet Festival in Costa Rica; the Integrated Symphonic Band of the Americas in Colombia; and Panama’s Festival Alfredo de Saint Malo, where he returned in 2024 as a faculty member.
As a commercial musician, Jafet has performed with artists such as Maelo Ruiz, Willy Chirino, Wichy Camacho, Pedro Brull, Lefty Perez, and Osvaldo Ayala. He has participated as a session musician recording for Julio Reyes Copello and Natalia Schlesinger in Miami and different studios in Panama, including participation in TV shows such as Yo Me Llamo, Calle 7, and Tu Mañana.
In addition, as a teacher, he has presented masterclasses, educational concerts, and lectures across Panama, as well as in Florida and Virginia, USA. Since 2017, Jafet has been the assistant conductor in the band of the Cerro Viento Bilingual School, Panama. He maintains an active private studio combined with the Panamanian Trumpet Academy, which he founded in 2021.
Jafet received his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Lynn University Conservatory of Music as a student of Marc Reese and his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the Universidad de Panama , where he studied with Boris Juárez.
Jafet is a Yamaha Ambassador Artist and Latin America Music Workshop Artist for Panama.
When he is not practicing, Jafet enjoys running, playing soccer, going to the beach, and reading.