Described by The Washington Post as “the most charismatic performer” with a “connection to the gypsy source,” Ismael Fernández was born in Seville, of gypsy heritage, and grew up performing at flamenco festivals around the world with his internationally renowned family, La Familia Fernández. His career began in Spain’s top tablaos, including El Cordobés in Barcelona, Tablao Arenal in Seville, Tablao Casa Patas and Tablao Villarosa in Madrid, among others.

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Ismael has received accolades as a singer accompanying Flamenco dancing. In 2004 he won the Concurso Nacional del Cante de Córdoba and was a finalist at the Festival del Cante de la Unión. Together with his family, he performed several times at the prestigious Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla at the Teatro de la Maestranza with the production Las Cuatro Generaciones. Throughout his career, he has sung with flamenco legends such as Antonio Canales, El Guito, María Pagés, Farruquito, Marina Heredia, Juan Ramírez, Alejandro Granados, and Rafaela Carrasco, among others.

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For several years, Ismael was a principal member of the company of the acclaimed dancer María Pagés, performing at theaters including The Joyce Theater (New York), Sadler’s Wells Theatre (London), Esplanade Theatre (Singapore), Orchard Hall and Bunka Mura (Japan), Teatro de la Zarzuela and Teatro Real (Madrid), and Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona).

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Ismael collaborated with pop superstar Madonna on her Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016), with his voice featured on “La Isla Bonita.” He also performed at the tribute to Alejandro Sanz during the 2017 Latin Grammy Awards, singing for the gala that honored Sanz as “Person of the Year.” Additionally, he contributed his voice to Ricky Martin’s All In! show in Las Vegas for the number “Lola Lola.”

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In 2014, Ismael moved to New York with dancer Sonia Olla, his partner on and off stage. Since then, he has combined teaching flamenco singing with performances at international venues such as New York City Center, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington D.C.), Carnegie Hall (New York), Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York), Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles), and Baruch Performing Arts Center (Boston). Together with Sonia, he co-created flamenco productions including Tablao Sevilla, Entretiempo, Tiempo al Aire, Por los Caminos, Ella, and Gloria.

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He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including NYC Arts (PBS), Telecinco, Radio Nacional de España, Cadena SER, Punto Radio, and Onda Cero. He has toured across Asia, the Caribbean, and South America, both as a guest artist and with his own company. He regularly performs in New York clubs and at flamenco festivals across North America, including Santa Fe and Edmonton, and participated in the Havana International Dance Festival in Cuba. He has also been invited by the Spanish ambassadors in Washington D.C. and in Trinidad and Tobago.

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Ismael debuted his album Trato at Joe’s Pub as part of the Flamenco Festival New York 2019, and continues presenting his original music in New York clubs, maintaining residencies at venues such as Club Bonafide and DROM, among others. Together with Sonia, he created and toured the production Gloria in the Caribbean, presented by the Spanish embassies in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

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Ismael consulted with the Atlanta Opera on the production Threepenny Carmen, and in 2023 and 2024 he joined the Metropolitan Opera company as a soloist in the premiere of the opera Ainadamar. He has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Gefen Hall at the New York Philharmonic, collaborating with artists such as jazz master Wynton Marsalis, salsa musician Anthony Carrillo, and jazz pianist Elio Villafranca.

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In 2026, Ismael continues performing at festivals and concerts in the United States and Europe as part of Los Ricos, his project with Sonia. Los Ricos’ debut album, Vínculo, will be released in March 2026, and in June the couple returns to Carnegie Hall for a collaboration with renowned operatic mezzo-soprano Isobel Leonard.

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Ismael and Sonia have been guest artists at Berklee College of Music and Hartford University, teaching flamenco theory. They also led flamenco dance masterclasses at CUNY Dance Initiative, Joffrey Ballet, and New York City Center, and New York City’s New School.

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Currently, Ismael and Sonia reside in New York, where they run their own creative space, The House of Flamenco, the only flamenco studio in Manhattan and the official home of the EFA, Escuela de Flamenco de Andalucía.