Claudio Saldivia was born in Valdivia, Chile in 1967 and immigrated to Canada in 1975. His interest in music began at a very young age, studying violin at age 8. By the age of 10, he began to play the quena, at first teaching himself, and then studying under the Mexican flautist/quena player Javier Ortiz. Necessity being the mother of invention, Claudio with the help of his father also began to manufacture his own instruments, as properly tuned quenas were difficult to find. His interest in music also led him to study the guitar, zampoñas (pan pipes), charango (Bolivian stringed instrument), flute, sax, Latin percussion, and bass.

This multi-talented musician has shared the stage with Lorena Mckennitt and Bruce Cockburn, and has performed with various Latin and Canadian artists including, Grupo Taller, O’s Clan, Diego Marulanda, Pacande, Luisito Orbegoso, Jorge Campos, Marcelo Puente, Nancy White, Heather Chetwynd, Lisa Lindo, Toronto based Cuban band Son Ache, and composers John Mills-Cockell and Christos Hatzis.

He runs his own company, Araukania North Productions. To date he has worked with Chilean bands Quilapayun and Inti Illimani. For 2011, he will be presenting Los Jaivas in Toronto.