Born in 1983, in Bogotá, Colombia, Fidel started classical piano studies at age 8. Ten years later, he shifted to jazz piano, initially through private lessons and later by joining Universidad Javeriana’s Jazz Performance Program, where he studied with acclaimed Colombian and German instructors. His arranging and compositional skills were awarded 1st place in the 2005 University Jazz Festival. In 2006 he worked in the professional production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Super Star” in Colombia.

In 2007 Fidel moved to New York City, and transferred to The City College of New York (CUNY), where he studied with renowned musicians such as Bruce Barth, Mike Holober, and John Patitucci, with a scholarship granted by the Kaye Scholars Program, and graduating Suma Cum Laude in February 2009. Since his arrival to New York, Fidel has deepened his Latin Jazz roots, playing with seasoned musicians like Vince Cherico, Ruben Rodriguez, Carlos del Pino, Rafael Monteagudo, John Benitez, among many others, and recording in Carlos Jimenez's third CD,'Thoughts'. He has been invited to play with several projects in celebrated festivals and jazz venues, including the International Bassists Association Convention at Penn State University (2009), VIII Festival of Colombian Musicians at The Highline Ballroom (2009), Harlem Meer Festival at Central Park, La Casita World Music Festival at Lincoln Center, Iridium Jazz Club, Zinc Bar, and Joe’s Pub.

As a composer and arranger, Fidel has worked with Colorado based photographer Dana Romanoff, writing the music for her last two photo-documentaries, the latter commissioned by the Women’s Foundation of Colorado. As an instructor, Fidel has been working for the last 2 years as a private piano teacher at the Grundman School of Music of the Riverdale YM-YWHA, as a band instructor in public schools for the program Music On Wheels with Bronx-based non-profit Renaissance E.M.S., and now with The Piano School of New York.

Mr. Fidel Cuellar  has joined the faculty of the Piano School of NYC in 2011