Hansel Perez Carrero is a violin performer and the director of the Havana Quartet, recognized for his unique blend of classical elegance and Cuban soul. Born and trained in Havana, Cuba, Hansel has emerged as a vibrant voice in contemporary chamber music, bridging traditions and cultures through his work on stage and in the classroom. His career has taken him to major venues and festivals across the United States and Europe, including Lincoln Center in New York, Festival Napa Valley, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, and the Berlin Philharmonic Hall.

As director and founding member of the Havana Quartet since 2017, Hansel leads an ensemble that brings the warmth and rhythmic vitality of Cuban music into the heart of the classical repertoire. He also performs as section violin with the Música Eterna Chamber Orchestra and the Lyceum Orchestra of Havana, and previously played with the Havana Chamber Orchestra. His orchestral work includes collaborations with world-renowned artists, most notably as part of the acclaimed Mozart y Mambo recording and European tours with Sarah Willis.

Hansel’s dedication to music education is central to his career. He has served on the violin faculty at the Conservatory of Music Amadeo Roldán, the National High School of Music, and the Elementary School of Music Paulita Concepción, where he taught violin and chamber music for over a decade. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance from the National Conservatory of the Arts in Havana and completed post-graduate studies at the Balthasar Neumann Cuban-European Academy in Germany.

His artistic development has been shaped by masterclasses with leading artists including Tai Murray, Mauricio Fuks, Andrea Rognoni, Yuval Gotlibovich, Raquel Castro, and Karla Donehew-Perez.

Career highlights include the Mozart y Mambo tours in Germany and Austria (2021-2022), a featured role in Seasons of Cuba at Lincoln Center with Joshua Bell, and appearances at international festivals such as the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, the Harvard Music Festival, MetroNome Brewery, and the Minneapolis International Film Festival. Now based primarily in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, Hansel continues to perform, teach, and champion musical experiences that cross borders and celebrate cultural connection.