Yaima Sáez Bejarano

Young singer Yaima Sáez has a very unique voice, capable of performing boleros, ballads, guarachas, blues, among other genres, not only in her native language but also mastering other languages such as English and Portuguese. Recognized for her vocal timbre, stage presence and the type of music she advocates. Her interpretations move with admirable ease between bolero, son and trova.

Her dream was to study Psychology, a specialty she studied as a Bachelor of Physical Culture and later taught at the University.

She received the Course in Narrative Techniques at the Onelio Jorge Cardoso Literary Training Center, directed by Eduardo Heras León; the first window through which she glimpsed the world of art.

Psychology was the center of her life until two art instructors appeared, Irma Sariol and Gilberto Riverón, who drew her attention to her voice. But everything became more serious between the years 2002 and 2003, when she performed in a concert for a graduation gala.

In 2004 she participated in a National Festival of the FEU where she obtained first place along with Adrián Berazaín. Then came the contest "In Search of Talent", convoked by UNEAC which gave her the opportunity to meet Servando Vázquez and Leopoldo Lastre, who made her understand that her path was not trova, but great temperamental songs.

After a great battle to become a professional along with the efforts of Enrique Bonne, Rodulfo Vaillant, Orlando García, Luis Carbonell, Servando Vázquez and Hugo Oslé, in 2006 she already had her place at "El Gato Tuerto", where she debuted on June 3. She entered the world of music in 2006 assuming song as the main genre to perform.

In her short artistic career Yaima has been worthy of important awards and recognitions that support her musical trajectory throughout the Island.

An example of this, she was chosen at the International Festival of Boleros in Havana, Voice of the Year in 2005. Also Prize for Artistic Mastery, Prize for Best Performance of Cuban Bolero and "Elena Burke" Prize, at the National Performance Competition 2006.

The Golden Boleros Festival of Camagüey, where she sang "Mil congojas" opened doors for her. The popular Mariana de Gonich academy granted her the Grand Prize in the National Singing Competition in 2008, and she has also been selected to be part of artistic and musical shows at Tropicana both nationally and internationally.

She has shared the stage with important orchestras and soloists of international relevance such as Juan Formell, Andy Montañez, the diva of Buena Vista Social Club Omara Portuondo and La Aragón, among others.

Likewise, she performed in Miami, at the insistence of the Diego sisters, alongside Rosita Fornés, Beatriz Márquez, Vania Borges, Osdalgia; she also participated in the I Encounter of Popular Voices, convoked by Argelia Fragoso. She was invited in 2011 to be part of a tour of 15 cities in the United States, alongside Santiago Alfonso's company, a project sponsored by Hard Rock.

She participated in the 2012 Matamoros Son Festival in Santiago de Cuba, where she was part of the Serenata Morena that took place at the Copper Sanctuary in tribute to the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Virgin of Copper, a moment catalogued as special, accompanied on piano by maestro Frank Fernández and the President of said Festival, the sonero Adalberto Álvarez.

Together with the Lizt Alfonso dance company, she participated in the show "Amigas", which took place at the Karl Marx Theater in 2012, also presented in other provinces of the country such as Cienfuegos and Holguín. Likewise, she was part of the cast that took this musical to the United Arab Emirates in the month of March of that year.

She toured Holland and Belgium with the Lizt Alfonso Company as a guest performer in the show "Cuba Vibra". (September – October – November 2013).

Concert-DVD "Joyas del Tiempo", at the Mella Theater, with the musical arrangement by maestro Luis Carbonell, artistic direction by Lizt Alfonso and audiovisual production by Lester Hamlet. (December 11, 2013).

Special presentation at the important Montreal theater "Place des Arts". (February 2015).

Unique concert at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Canada: Yaima Sáez and her group "Live in Concert", as part of the Panamá Art and Culture Festival. July 16, 2015

Invited to perform concerts in Cali, Colombia, September 2015.

Collaboration with the song "Qué te pedí" on the phonogram "Cuba y Puerto Rico un abrazo salsero", under the musical direction of Isidro Infante, and nominated in 2017 for the Latin Grammys.

Concert-DVD "Armonía", at the Mella Theater, presenting the phonogram of the same name, co-production of the record labels Egrem and Bismusic. December, 2017.

Invited to be part of the show "Cuba Vibra", by the Lizt Alfonso Company at the National Auditorium of Mexico. August 2018.

Awards and Nominations

She was chosen at the International Festival of Boleros in Havana, Voice of the Year in 2005.
Prize for Artistic Mastery.
Prize for Best Performance of Cuban Bolero.
"Elena Burke" Prize, at the National Performance Competition in 2006.
The popular Mariana de Gonitch academy granted her the Grand Prize in the National Singing Competition in 2008.
Nominated in the Song Category at CUBADISCO 2016, for the CD IDENTIDAD of the BISMUSIC record label. May 2016
Invited to be part of the Jury of the National Boleros Competition, Colombia, November 2016.
Nominated in the Song Category at Cubadisco 2017, for the CD Armonía, of the EGREM record label, May 2017
Nominated for the Lucas Awards 2017 (Video clip), in the choreography category for the song "La Mazucamba".
Decorated with the Distinction for National Culture, May 2017.