Diego Alejandro

Language: Spanish

Diego Alejandro, an international pianist with Autism Spectrum Disorder and partial hearing loss, was born in Lima, Peru, in 1998. His real name is DIEGO ALEJANDRO LEONARDO ARIAS.

Doctors initially said that he would never speak, let alone develop any talent. Despite the bleak outlook, his mother was determined to help him succeed, fighting against all odds because she believed that with patience, her son could progress. This was no easy task, as she had to invest countless hours, along with Silvia (his nanny), to help Diego Alejandro learn to speak and develop certain skills.

From a very young age, Diego Alejandro was drawn to toy pianos, and despite growing up in a home where no one played any musical instruments, he always wanted to learn to play the piano. This desire was challenging for his mother to fulfill because they didn’t own a piano, and due to Diego Alejandro’s condition, no teacher was willing to teach him.

After much searching, they finally found someone willing to teach him, but he had to start with a very small electronic keyboard, as they couldn’t afford a piano. However, these lessons had to be discontinued after some time.

Years passed, and at the age of 14, Diego Alejandro resumed his piano lessons, but these were sporadic because he had to travel to a piano school far from home, where they had to pay to rent the piano and also pay the teacher for the lessons. His mother always made a great effort and sacrifice to take him to these classes, which were not regular due to the distance and financial constraints.

Eventually, DIEGO ALEJANDRO had the opportunity to participate in a national event for people with special abilities, where a visionary person (Miss Mercedes) recognized his talent and potential, marking the beginning of his musical career.

DIEGO ALEJANDRO began performing on important stages in Peru and abroad. However, his journey was not easy, as he had to study extensively to reach the same level as other pianists in Europe and Asia, with or without special abilities, and to achieve the performance standards they exhibited. He lives in a country where it is very expensive to acquire a piano and to find a committed teacher to help him continue learning.

Diego Alejandro has participated in various events in countries such as South Korea, Colombia, Mexico, Italy, Argentina, and several cities in the United States, among others. In his category, he was the first person to represent Peru in various countries around the world.

Over time, DIEGO ALEJANDRO has received numerous national and international awards for representing Peru abroad with distinction. He has been featured in many television, radio, internet, and other media interviews, where he is often considered a symbol of perseverance.

DIEGO ALEJANDRO is a clear example of perseverance, continuous struggle, and the ability to overcome all obstacles in life. He embodies the belief that with hard work and discipline, dreams can indeed come true.