AMSTERDAM - Curaçaoan percussionist Vernon Chatlein has been honored with the Black Achievement Award in the category of Arts and Culture. The award recognizes his innovative approach to Afro-Caribbean and jazz traditions, blending deep respect for cultural heritage with contemporary experimentation.

The Black Achievement Month (BAM), celebrated each October in the Netherlands, highlights talents of African descent who have made outstanding contributions to society. Chatlein’s recognition underscores his influence as a musical innovator, seamlessly weaving tradition and modern creativity into his work.

Born in Curaçao in 1984, Chatlein studied traditional and folkloric music in Cuba before continuing his education at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he specialized in jazz, pop, and improvised music.

In 2011, he received the Stichting Jazz Talent Award and later founded his own ensemble, Vernon Chatlein’s Elements, performing with renowned international musicians at festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Following the presentation of his latest project, “Papia”, Chatlein plans to spend the coming months in Curaçao, conducting research on traditional local music and instruments. His goal is to incorporate this knowledge into his modern compositions, supported by the Fonds Cultuur Participatie (Cultural Participation Fund).

Journalists who have followed his career describe Chatlein as an artist who effortlessly bridges innovation and tradition, with a profound respect for the generations that came before him — a theme that consistently runs through his work.

Since its inception in 2016, the Black Achievement Award has celebrated individuals who make exceptional contributions to arts, culture, science, and public life. Chatlein’s recognition is seen as a powerful acknowledgment of his role in revitalizing and internationalizing Afro-Caribbean music, bringing Curaçao’s rhythms and stories to the global jazz stage.