My name is Álvaro Manuel Mancilla González (Alcioner). I was born on May 28th, 1964, in Poza Rica, a northern city in the state of Veracruz, México. When I was 11 years old, I started studying guitar on my own. Later I participated in several school festivals, singing and playing The Beatles’ songs. At the age of 12, I began to write my own music. In 1978, I enrolled in the University of Veracruz’s Music School to continue pursuing guitar and piano studies professionally. After two years, I decided to focus on the piano. In 1980, I was part of an experimental group that played progressive music. From 1985 to 1988, I took private piano classes with Daniel Noli, a teacher at the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) and the National Music Conservatory in Mexico City.