Live recording from Rigo Murillo and Barbara Woodring’s recital on November 8, 2015 in Dallas, TX:
Young Classical Violinist Takes Students By Storm
26-year-old classical violinist, Ray Chen performed at the Hanh Hall in the Music Academy of the West. After touring the world and performing in various venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, Chen returned to Santa Barbara after two years prepared to entice an audience eager to hear more.
It is easy to say that Chen’s niche, classical music, is known for putting kids to sleep, while or helping plants grow. Suffice to say, many categorize classical music to be rather boring—especially in this newer generation. However, this event was held by UCSB Arts and Lectures and subsequently brought together an audience full of young adults. I was curious to see how Ray Chen would interpret the pieces to appeal to the younger generation.
(By Kevin Chan / Daily Nexus / Wednesday, Oct. 21) – Read the entire article.
Rigo Murillo’s Bio
As a true exponent of the Russian violinistic tradition, violinist Rigo Murillo has earned the warm respect from his listeners and colleagues through his signature vivid and multicolored tone, clear yet spontaneous eloquence, and well-defined expression.
Rigo Murillo is able to capture his audience’s imagination with an inspiring tone and a driving musical conviction. His exhilarating musical expression is able to engage even the youngest audiences. Rigo Murillo offers the most exquisite sounds to the avid listener.
Rigo has shared the stage with world-acclaimed artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Jean Pierre Rampal, Doc Severinsen, and Ray Charles, among others.
In addition, he has performed in master classes with renowned artists such as Mayumi Fujikawa, Gregory Feigin, and Alexandre Brussilovsky, and played as a member of the Pensacola Symphony, Meridian Symphony, Mississippi Opera Orchestra, as well as concertmaster of the USM Symphony and the Mesquite Symphony.
Rigo is producer of a compilation of instrumental songs performed on violin, titled “My Heart’s Music,” is featured on several recordings of Jewish liturgical and folk music, and has appeared as a guest soloist with the Ollin Yoliztli Chamber Orchestra.
He is the founder of the Suzuki strings program in the Greenville (TX) public schools, and teaches private and group violin lessons in the Northeast Dallas area while keeping an active performing schedule in the North Texas region.
Rigo has received honor degrees in violin performance and music education from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he was also granted the McGraw Violin Chair Award. He holds an Artist Diploma in violin performance from the Ollin Yoliztli Institute in Mexico City, where he studied with Sergei Gorbenko, the former concertmaster of the USSR Radio and TV Orchestra.
He is a registered Suzuki teacher and active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has served as Vice-President of the North Texas Suzuki Association, having studied Suzuki pedagogy with Michelle George, Joanne Melvin, Pat D’Ercole, and Paul Landefeld.
Additionally, he has been a faculty member at The University of Southern Mississippi Suzuki School, Bass Memorial Academy, Violinspire Suzuki Workshop in Hattiesburg, MS, and the American Honor Orchestra Festival.
Rigo Murillo’s musical leadership has taken him to excel as music director of the USM Civic Orchestra, director of operations of the USM Symphony Orchestra, and music director at Mount Sinai Congregation in Mexico City.