Born in Honduras, Juan Carlos Peña began his musical studies at the Victoriano Lopez Music School. He holds performance degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and Rice University, and a degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Maryland.
In Honduras, Peña held the positions of Artistic/Technical Director of the Victoriano López Music School, Music Director of both the San Pedro Sula Orchestra and the Youth Chamber Orchestra of Tegucigalpa. In Cali, Colombia he was director of the Chamber Orchestra of the Antonio Valencia Conservatory, and in La Coruña, Spain he was Music Director of the Madrigalia Chamber Choir.
Peña served as Principal Bass with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in Honduras, and with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Valle in Colombia. He also served as Co-Principal Double Bass with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia in Spain
Since 2010 Peña spends part of his summers in Honduras, collaborating as a conductor, recitalist and clinician with the country’s main musical institutions.
Peña is Principal Bass with the Florida Grand Opera Orchestra and the Palm Beach Symphony, performs regularly with the Naples Philharmonic and has been with Nu-Deco Ensemble since its first season.