About the Author 

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L. D. Bonilla is a Panamanian guitarist, arranger, and composer with over 25 years of musical experience. He studied classical guitar from a young age, holds degrees in architecture and music, and graduated magna cum laude from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music with a specialization in electric guitar.

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He has worked as a session musician, arranger, and educator, teaching guitar since 1995 and serving on the faculty of the Danilo Pérez Foundation for seven years. Throughout his career, he has performed with major international artists—including Rubén Blades, Luis Fonsi, Ismael Miranda, and Erika Ender—and has played on stages across Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

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In 2020 he released his debut album “PanaManouche,” blending Panamanian folk music with Gypsy Jazz, and in 2021 achieved two major milestones:

• A nomination at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Score for Animated Short Film (Two Trees), and
• First prize in the Roque Cordero National Composition Contest for a saxophone quartet work.

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Since 2019, Bonilla has worked as an orchestra musician with a prestigious international cruise line, performing primarily in production shows and guest entertainer programs within the main theater. In this environment, he operates under highly structured schedules and production standards, collaborating closely with musicians and technical teams to ensure consistent execution of live entertainment.

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In 2023, he was appointed Music Director within the same organization, a position he continues to hold. In this role, he oversees musical operations related to theater productions and guest entertainment, coordinating rehearsals, performances, and daily musical logistics.

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This professional context has served as a space where Bonilla continues to apply and refine an approach to musical organization developed over many years of prior experience working with bands, ensembles, and original projects.