Natalia Esquivel Benítez (born 15 December 1973 in San José) is a Costa Rican composer, guitarist, singer-songwriter, author, poet, vocalist and academic in musical education.
Esquivel has been actively promoting the development of reading and music for children, alongside the concept of "musicking" set forth by Christopher Small; music is conceived as a process to help build learning and enhance the pupil's abilities, including the development of competencies needed in their life.
[2] Her music worshops, supported by religious authorities, have set a local precedent in this regard.
[4] Esquivel has been an artist-in-residence with Spanish composer of social music Marta Lozano Molano, conducting a musical project for rural areas and communities under social risk; its 17 songs invite to reflect on ecological and social values, based on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
[5] Her musical repertoire is inspired by the work of Billy Joel, Ana Belén, Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, and Violeta Parra, among others.