Romy Hernandez Carbo is a Cuban-born pianist, composer, arranger and educator based in Naarm/Melbourne. Classically trained in Havana, she discovered her passion for composition, jazz and improvisation after moving to Australia over a decade ago, becoming deeply connected to the country’s vibrant contemporary music scene.
Her music blends Latin American traditions, jazz, classical influences and contemporary sounds, shaped by themes of migration, identity, memory and personal storytelling. Romy is recognised for her work as a composer, arranger and performer with Latin jazz ensembles including Ella Trinidad, El Número Perfecto, San Lázaro and La Influencia. Her work as a composer and arranger has been featured in projects supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, including San Lázaro’s 2019 funded project.
Her latest solo piano album, Poems of Bliss and Loss (2024), reflects her journey between Cuba and Australia through intimate and expressive compositions that draw from jazz, classical traditions and Afro-Cuban rhythms. The album was launched at The JazzLab in 2024, presenting her original compositions in a solo piano setting. In 2026, Romy was featured as a performer at the opening gala of the Spanish and Latin American Film Festival in Naarm/Melbourne, performing live music for the festival’s opening night
celebration at The Astor Theatre. Her composition and music video Jack the Horse (2024) were
also featured as part of the festival program, screened before every film throughout the event.
Romy Hernandez and her band stop by PBS for an intimate Studio 5 Live performance. Tune in to Fiesta Jazz on Saturday September 5 from 11am to hear this special set and interview with host Saúl Zavarce.
Studio 5 Live is made possible by Carlton Audio Visual and is supported by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.
