Miguel Prado is a master harpist, instrument maker, composer, and founding member of the group Arpex, based in the Central Valley of California. Originally from Aguililla, a municipality in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, Miguel is deeply rooted in the tradition of arpa grande—a collective musical form centered around a large wooden harp and accompanied by violins and regional guitars like the guitarra de golpe and vihuela

He began playing music at a young age, inheriting the passion and knowledge from his family and region. Coming from a musical lineage and growing up in a place where conjunto de arpa grande was inextricably linked with daily life, Miguel attributes his musical path to heritage and necessity. After immigrating to the United States at the age of 17, he faced the dual challenges of starting life as a young migrant and introducing an unfamiliar traditional art form into a new cultural landscape.

In 2001, Miguel co-founded Grupo Arpex, which has become a cornerstone of arpa grande music in California. The group was created to reflect the traditional five-piece format of arpa grande—two violins, harp, and two guitars—and continues to evolve with a consistent commitment to musical integrity and audience connection. Arpex performs a wide range of repertoire including sones, danzas, cumbias, and regional corridos, adapting their setlist to modern ears while remaining rooted in tradition.

Miguel is also a highly skilled harp builder, having developed and patented a modernized diapasón (harp fingerboard) designed to allow faster and more precise tuning changes between songs. This innovation emerged out of necessity, as he experienced the limitations of traditional harps in performance settings. He constructs diapasones largely by hand, carefully selecting and shaping each piece of wood, and has also built a custom machine to make his own harp strings.

Outside of his performance career, Miguel is an informal music educator, training new group members from within Arpex by incorporating them into the ensemble and teaching them the group’s distinct style. He is deeply involved in mentoring youth, including his own children, whom he supports with musical training while encouraging them to discover their own paths.

Through all of this, Miguel speaks passionately about the emotional and cultural significance of arpa grande music. He describes it as a music of identity, memory, and community, and remains committed to carrying its legacy forward while making it relevant to today’s audiences.