Phil Manzanera, producer and lead guitarist Roxy Music
Fans of British music will know Roxy Music, one of the most iconic British Prog-Rock bands of the 1970s and 80s, formed by Brian Ferry, Brian Eno and lead guitarist Phil Manzanera. Manzanera went on to produce albums for Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and John Cale as well as some of the most exciting rock artists to come out of Latin America: Os Paralamos, Fito Páez, Aterciopelados and Draco Rosa, to name a few. His forays into Latin Music, was a clue to something very few British fans knew; that Phil was half-Colombian, and spent most of his childhood in Latin America, including Venezuela, Colombia and Cuba, whose music massively influenced him. In Havana, aged 8, Phil witnessed the Cuban revolution and encountered his first guitar, owned by his mother, who taught him the South American folk songs she loved. Phil went on to live in Venezuela and Colombia before being sent to boarding school in England where he became engrossed in the 70s music scene.
Oscar Murillo, painter
Born in La Paila, a small town in the Valle del Cauca, Oscar Murillo moved to London when he was 10 years old. Murillo worked as a teacher in a secondary school while studying, but soon after graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2012, Murillo’s career rocketed when Miami art dealers Don and Mera Rubell - known for discovering the likes of Basquiat and Keith Haring - saw his paintings at an independent art fair and asked to meet him. By February 2013, Sotheby’s, Christies and Phillips sold 24 pieces for a total of $4.8 million. In 2019, he co-won the Turner Prize after requesting that the jury award the prize for the first time to all four nominated artists. Extremely modest, this monster of the art world profile keeps a low profile, but he is hugely influential and respected by critics, artists and audiences for his work that explores "the body in transit" (curator Legacy Russell).
Yung Filly, Youtuber and comedian
Born in Cali, Colombia, Andrés Felipe Barrientos, also known as Yung Filly always had a passion for entertaining. Relocating to South London with his family in his formative years Filly has always claimed London as his home, however the cultural push to become a success story from his immigrant mother was the driving force behind his ambitions. From selling Lucozade in the school playground, studying to become a broker at 17, to winning a MOBO Award and becoming one of the most successful YouTubers in the UK. Filly has solidified his stardom by crossing-over into the mainstream with his recent charting single ‘Grey’ as well as hosting numerous shows such as ‘Celeb Lock-In’ and ‘Hot Property’ on BBC Three as well as The Filly & Harry Show on Channel 4.
Fernando Montaño, ballet dancer
Originally from the city of Buena Aventura on the Pacific coast of Colombia, dancer Fernando Montaño was a soloist with the Royal Ballet. He joined the Company in 2006 and was promoted to First Artist in 2010 and Soloist in 2014, dancing in many prominent roles at The Royal Opera House. His has won many awards, modelled for Vivienne Westwood and choreographed his own shows. Since leaving the Royal Ballet 2019 and has performed all over the world including with the Cuban National Ballet as well as in the US, Peru, Paris and Colombia, and was also a judge on Colombia's Dancing with the Stars'. In 2019, he was made an Honorary Doctor of Arts by The University of Bath.
Julieth Lozano, award winning soprano
Named one of Opera Wire’s 2023 Top Ten Rising Stars, Julieth Lozano wowed audiences worldwide when she scooped the coveted Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Audience Prize at the 2023 'Cardiff Singer of the World' Competition. Julieth graduated with a Masters in Vocal Performance and an Artist Diploma in Opera from the Royal College of Music, under the tutelage of Dinah Harris. An Irene Hanson and Independent Opera at Sadler’s Wells scholar, Julieth was a 2019/20 Young Artist at the National Opera Studio in London. Julieth’s 2022/23 season commenced in her native Colombia as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at Teatro Mayor under the baton of Martin Haselböck. In 2023, she made her both debut with Welsh National Opera at the Dubai Expo and with English National Opera at Glyndebourne Festival as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, and is well on her way to a formidable career.
Sasha Keable, singer-songwriter
Sasha Keable is a singer and songwriter of Colombian descent from South London. In 2013, she collaborated with Disclosure on the single "Voices" and toured with the duo around the UK. In 2014, she supported recording artist Katy B on her UK tour. She has released two extended plays to date, Black Book (2013) and Lemongrass and Limeleaves (2014). Both were signed to Tinie Tempah's independent record label Disturbing London. Sasha recently released ‘Hold Up,’ a single excavating deep-rooted heartache, which received critical acclaim.
Jessica Maria Gilhooley, actor
Trained at the prestigious Drama Centre London, known in the industry as the 'trauma centre' for its rigorous yet effective training (With notable alumni like Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, and Anne-Marie Duf) this Britsih-Colombian has started to become a name as a rising Actor. She worked on the BAFTA-winning TV series "I Am" on Channel 4, starred in Miramax's recent box office hit "The Beekeeper" alongside Jason Statham and Jeremy Irons, and is impressing audiences in the multi-award-winning British film "Halter" as Amanda. Her theatre credits include acclaimed performances such as Elaine Robinson in "The Graduate," a sold-out run as Miss Fern in "The Bad Seed," and a memorable US tour with the renowned comedy group Upright Citizens Brigade.
Chucho Merchán, bass guitarist (The Eurythmics, The Pretenders )
Chucho Merchán is one of British rock’s most successful bass guitarists. After arriving from Colombia in 1974 to study at Cambridge University, Chucho spent two decades playing and touring with The Eurythmics, The Pretenders, George Harrison, Pete Townshend (The Who), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Bryan Adams among others. In 1986, Chucho organized a charity concert at The Royal Albert Hall involving all the above artists, in aid of the survivors of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano eruption, which killed 25,000 people. Chucho now lives between Colombia and the UK where he continues to work in music, while campaigning for human and animal rights.
Lorena Andrea, actor
Born in Camden to Spanish and Colombian parents, Andrea took acting classes at the Anna Scher Theatre, started appearing on Television as a teenager and has forged a successful career as working actress ever since. She followed her first feature film 'Jesters' in 2016, playing Colombian student Sofia, by starring in three films 2017, including 'Unhinged', 'House on Elm Lake' and Michael Noer's 'Papillon' as Lali, a Wayuu Indian woman who rescues Papillon Charlie Hunnam. Since then, Andrea has starred as Lotsee opposite Chris Routhe in the 2019 western 'No Man's Land', as Sister Lilith in the Netflix fantasy series 'Warrior Nun' and in 2023, landed the part of mermaid princess Perla in the 2023 live-action film adaptation of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Big things lie ahead for this truly British-Colombian actress.
Dairo Vargas - painter, mental health campaigner
Dairo Vargas paints with panache and displays a capacity for draughtsmanship not often seen today. Reminiscent in some respects of Futurism, his paintings are characterized by a feeling of constant movement, even dance, with an emphasis on the layers and depths of different emotions. There is a desire to penetrate deep into the psyche and bring feelings and thoughts to the surface. The fluid works seem to vibrate with change. Dairo is also an educator and campaigner on mental health issues, in 2019 Dairo he was awarded a LUKAS for his contribution to Society.
