Mexican American composer, pianist, and bandleader Arturo O'Farrill stands as a towering figure in contemporary music, renowned for his genre-defying virtuosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to social justice through music. O’Farrill bridges the gap between traditional Latin rhythms, modern jazz, and contemporary composition, continually pushing the boundaries of the art form while maintaining a profound connection to his roots. O'Farrill is a passionate educator and advocate for social and political justice, using his platform to champion diversity and unity.

As founder and artistic director of both the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra (ALJO) and Belongó (formerly known as the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance), he plays a pivotal role in nurturing cultural dialogue through the transformative power of music. O’Farrill is a 6-time GRAMMY winner and 2-time Latin GRAMMY winner. Hailed by DownBeat as “one of our greatest living pianists,” he has released nearly 25 albums as a solo artist, collaborator, and with ALJO. His compositions have been performed by Dr. Cornel West, pianist Lara Downes, the San Francisco Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and many others, and he has received commissions from Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Philadelphia Music Project, The Apollo Theater, and more. He has also been appointed to key positions and residencies, most recently the Bill Evans Fellow at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.

In 2007, O'Farrill founded the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, now known as Belongó. A non-profit institution, it’s dedicated to performing, educating about, and preserving the music of all of the Americas, emanating from African and indigenous roots, through the entry point of jazz. Belongó produces the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra's annual performance season and manages the Orchestra's weekly engagement at NYC’s Birdland. Its educational programs include the Afro Latin Jazz Academy of Music (ALJAM), an in-school residency program serving public schools in New York City; the Fat Cats, a pre-professional youth orchestra that prepares the next generation of musicians; and the Global Rhythms in Our Tribe (G.R.I.O.T.), a music program that connects youth with rhythms and storytelling from global cultures as a way to engage them in anti-violence activities. Belongó will serve as the cultural partner for Timbale Terrace, a 340-unit affordable housing project in East Harlem. Two floors of the building will house Casa Belongó—a permanent cultural hub for music education, performance, and community engagement set to break ground in 2026.

Born in Mexico City and raised in New York City, O'Farrill's musical journey is deeply rooted in a legacy of innovation and cultural fusion. His father, Chico O'Farrill, was an influential composer, arranger, and conductor who played a crucial role in integrating Afro Cuban rhythms into jazz during the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1980s, Arturo joined the Carla Bley Big Band, before going on to collaborate with Dizzy Gillespie, Harry Belafonte, Lester Bowie, Steve Turre, Tito Puente, Wynton Marsalis, and more. In 1995, he was named pianist and music director of the Chico O'Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, an ensemble he would go on to lead following his father's death in 2001. O'Farrill is based in New York City where he lives with his wife, classical pianist Alison Deane. Their sons, Zack and Adam, are also musicians and frequent collaborators.