LUIS CASAL

Violin

Dr. Luis Casal is one of Panama’s leading violinists and violists, the Panama News cites: “Panama does have a worthy classical scene, and right at the top of it we find Luis Enrique Casal.” Mr. Casal is vice president of the Sinfonía Concertante Foundation of Panama, an honorary academic adviser to the Alfredo Saint Malo Music Festival, and violin/viola instructor of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Known for his charisma, versatility, and musicality, Mr. Casal is a favorite among audiences and has quickly established himself in both art and folk music stages. He has represented his country in events in England, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, and the United States.

An experienced orchestra player, Mr. Casal has held the position of Principal Violist of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra (2005-2008), Concertmaster of the Butler Symphony Orchestra in Butler, Pennsylvania (1998-2000), Concertmaster of the Viola Ensemble of the 2003 Tertis International Viola Workshop and Competition, and most recently guest concertmaster of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra. Some of the prestigious conductors he has worked under include Sergio Commissiona, Charles Dutoit, David Effron, Larry Rachleff, Juan Pablo Izquierdo, Eduardo Díaz-Muñóz, Roberto Abbado, and Elisabeth Heath Charles. He is co-founder and member of the Camerata Alfredo De Saint Malo.

A concert artist in both the violin and the viola, recent performances have included chamber music and solo appearances in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, Merkin Hall at Kaufman Center, Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, the Hall of the Americas at the Organization of American States, the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and residency at the Harper School Chamber Music Camp 2011 and the Loon Lake Live 2011 Summer Concert Series. Future commitments include duo recitals along with his brother, cellist Isaac Casal, trio recitals in partnership with the Latinum Duet, and collaboration with Korean pianist Wonsun Bae, Panamanian pianist Abdiel Lombana, and soprano Anna Noggle.

Enthusiastic about collaborating with young composers, Mr. Casal has premiered pieces by Mikolja Gorecki, Carlos Bernales, Alexandra Dubois, and Bartosz Smoragiewicz. Luis Casal holds degrees from New World School of the Arts, Carnegie Mellon University, Indiana University, and the University of Oklahoma.



Preferred age level of students
Eight years old to adult

Preferred skill levels of students
Intermediate through advanced

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