French-Argentine percussionist Lise Duarte Nuñez has a gift for bringing the often-hidden universe of orchestral percussion to millions, turning everything from tambourines to timpani into a window onto the instrumental family’s color and complexity.
Artist Playbook caught up with the award-winning musician to explore her connection to the extraordinary world of percussion.
Where did your love of percussion begin?
My first connection came through Argentinian folklore. At seven, I played the bombo leguero and danced malambo, where rhythm, movement, and tradition were deeply connected. A year later, I discovered the percussion family at the Alberto Ginastera Conservatory. Seeing one musician move between so many instruments, sounds, and colors fascinated me. I remember thinking, even as a child: this is where I belong.
What made you want to share what you have learned with other percussionists?
For me, music education is above all a human connection. I was fortunate to learn from teachers and colleagues who shared not only knowledge, but ways of listening, thinking, and approaching music.
Sharing resources became my way of continuing that spirit of transmission, helping musicians listen, question, and develop their own understanding with confidence and curiosity.
How has moving between so many instruments shaped you as a musician?
Every percussion instrument has its own language, personality, and colors. Whether I am playing timpani, marimba, snare drum, or an accessory instrument, I am searching for the same thing, a meaningful sound that serves the music. Percussion is not simply about mastering many instruments. It is about discovering the many ways sound can communicate.
What is most rewarding about helping another musician understand the repertoire?
The most rewarding moment is when a musician begins to hear something differently. A passage stops being a series of notes or technical challenges and becomes connected to artistic intention and a personal understanding of the music. Teaching is not about creating copies of myself. It is about helping musicians become more curious, confident, and capable of making their own musical decisions.
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