Julio Cesar, birth name Cesar Cuahutemoc Amaral Bernal, was born on January 1st, 1981 in Tepic Nayarit Mex. in 1988 his mom, dad and 2 siblings moved to the US (Seattle, WA). The young Amaral began playing the trumpet at the age of 10 and took weekly music lessons at Coe Elementary School. His middle school years were spent at ASA Mercer Middle school in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of South Seattle, where he studied jazz trumpet with Sam Chambliss. Some of his most fond music memories/adventures happened through his High School years where he had the opportunity to play Lead Trumpet with the Nationally Acclaimed Roosevelt High School Jazz Band under the direction of Scott Brown. It was at RHS where he formed life-long friendships that endured through his collegiate years at the University of Washington. At UW Mr. Amaral was mentored by Roy Cummings until Roy's passing in 2000. In 2003 Mr. Amaral earned a Bachelor's in Music degree from UW, in Jazz Studies. In the year 2000 Mr. Amaral enlisted the help of his Father and Brother, Roberto Amaral Sr. & Jr., to form Banda Vagos, a uniquely orchestrated band which specializes in honoring and playing the brassy Banda Genre of Middle and Northern Mexico. In 2001, at the age of 19, Mr. Amaral was hired to play with the premier Jazz band of the Northwest, The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. For almost a decade he played the lead trumpet chair until resigning his 2011 in order to fully commit to and purse the music of Banda. In May 2015, Mr. Amaral launched a solo signing career in the musical category known as Regional Mexicano. Under the artist name, Julio Cesar y el Imperio, he performs original compositions as well as interprets well know cover pieces. Mr. Amaral is an accomplished intrumentalist and vocalist. He has played alongside and studied with music icons including Allen Vizzutti, Arturo Sandoval, John Faddis, Giovanni Hidalgo, Jimmy Heath and many others.