mafer bandola (maría fernanda gonzález olivo, she/her) is a venezuelan-born, brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, teaching artist, and community organizer. renowned as one of the leading performers of the four-string bandola llanera, mafer has redefined the traditionally male-dominated instrument through bold innovation, original compositions, and a deep connection to oral traditions and contemporary sounds. she has performed on prestigious stages including carnegie hall, lincoln center, mass moca, womad, womex, npr tiny desk, and international venues such as teatro teresa carreño (venezuela), universidad de los andes (colombia), and paço do frevo (brazil). as a teaching artist, she has led workshops and residencies at dartmouth, george mason, butler university, carnegie hall, and more. a founding member of the latin alternative band ladama, mafer has released two acclaimed albums and co-produces latínica, a digital conference exploring latinx identity in the music industry. she also played a lead role in papá cuatro, a musical chronicling venezuelan migration, which received a carbonell award in 2023. her signature project, pipiris nights, is a monthly celebration of venezuelan music and dance in all the different new york boroughs. she also curates pipiris nights fest, a four-day festival featuring performances, panels, screenings, and workshops dedicated to preserving and reimagining venezuelan cultural identity in times of mass migration. mafer is part of bloodlines interwoven, a multi-year performance project led by the percussionist and composer kaoru watanabe, debuting at joe’s pub on october 1, 2025 and finishing at big ears fest 2026. she is also an artist selected to be part of the joe’s pub working group 25–2026 at the public theater.