Miguel C.

Violin

Genres: All

Teaches in English and Spanish 

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Miguel C. is a violinist, educator, and researcher whose work fluidly bridges tradition and modernity. Described by Gabriela Lena Frank as “a money musician, a virtuoso,” he continually explores what it means to be a 21st-century violinist. With over 11 years of teaching experience, Miguel has mentored students of all ages and backgrounds, from young beginners to university-level musicians. His teaching journey has taken him from the University of Missouri’s String Project to Antonio Strad Violin in Texas, to the Escuela Municipal de Ogíjares in Spain, and to the University of South Carolina, where he taught both as a doctoral student and professor.

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As a performer, Miguel is a member of Orange Road, a string quartet dedicated to new music. With the ensemble, he has appeared at the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, the Cortona Sessions in Italy, Southern Exposure in South Carolina, and festivals and universities across the U.S. and abroad. He has collaborated with leading composers including Augusta Read Thomas, Michael Riesman, and Patrick Clark, and has led initiatives like the Missouri Young Composers Forum.

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Miguel also creates innovative performance projects, such as Cloistered, a recital series inspired by the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and held behind the iron bars of a convent in Granada. His work as a violinist-researcher includes lecture-recitals on Spanish music at institutions in Spain and the U.S., and he has collaborated across genres with artists from flamenco, pop, and traditional music, including Luis Gualda, David Bisbal, Il Divo, and Georgi Andreev. He has also performed with Violins of Hope, bringing Holocaust-surviving instruments to life in concert.

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Recent highlights include a solo recital at the National Museum, a teaching residency at Takiri in Otavalo, and a performance with the Quito City Orchestra in Ecuador. In May 2025, he performed Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 1 in Spain, underscoring his commitment to minimalism, modernity, and expressive intensity. Miguel studied violin and musicology in Spain and the U.S. under Biljana Belloti, Eva Szekely, and Ari Streisfeld, and has taught workshops at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Granada, encouraging young composers to expand the violin’s role in contemporary practice.

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Miguel’s teaching philosophy emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and connection. He works to link musical expression with technical development, showing students how technique can unlock artistic freedom. His lessons adapt to the individual goals of each student—whether preparing for a college scholarship audition, learning to arrange a favorite anime song, or simply seeking joy in music-making. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he is committed to making music education inclusive and personally meaningful, shaping an environment where every student feels encouraged to grow. He believes that music is not just a skill to be mastered, but a language through which people of all backgrounds can find voice and community.