MEET THE TEAM

Abel Rodriguez violin
Person in black shirt holding a violin bow horizontally in front of a blue background.

About Abel Rodriguez.

Abel Rodriguez's musical journey began at the age of 7 in Camagüey, Cuba.

In 2004, he moved to Havana to further his musical education at the Escuela Nacional de Música (National School of Music). and Instituto Superior de Arte.

Throughout his career, Abel Rodriguez showcased his talent at various festivals and competitions. He participated in the Concurso Iberoamericano de Violin in Havana, the Villa de Llanes Competition in Spain, and the Festival of Contemporary Music in Havana, where he premiered new musical works. In addition, he received recognition at the UNEAC Competition and Musicalia Competition in Havana. Abel made his soloist debut at the age of 16 with the Sinfónica de Oriente in Santiago de Cuba. He also performed as a soloist with the Orquesta de Cámara de Camagüey and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Camagüey.

In 2011, Abel took classes with instructors Rolando Prusak and Nicolas Chumachenco in Zaragoza, Spain, and participated in the Festival Musik: Landschaft Westfalen in Germany in 2013 under the baton of composer Krzysztof Penderecki. From 2013 to 2016, he studied at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain, supported by scholarships from Fundación Carolina, Fundación Albéniz, and MAEC-AECID. There, he learned from Marco Rizzi (violin) and Marta Gulyas (chamber music).

Abel Rodriguez attended master classes with notable musicians like Heim Taub, Vadim Gluzman, Stephan Picard, Eduard Tadevosyan, Alexander Kerr, and Lorin Mazzel. He also collaborated with accomplished musicians including Ronald Zollman, Walter Reiter, Leo Brouwer, Péter Eötvös, András Schiff, Antoni Ros-Marbà, Valery Gergiev, Günter Pichler, and Zubin Mehta.

Abel Rodriguez completed his studies at the Koninklijke Conservatorium Den Haag in the class of Ilona Sie Dhian Ho, with support from the Leeuwerik Foundation and The Royal Conservatoire Excellence Scholarship. Currently, he works with the Residentie Orkest in Den Haag, where his passion for music continues to shine.

Young woman resting her head on a violin, gazing thoughtfully.

About Laura Vilela Garcia.

Laura Vilela embarked on her musical journey with a Bachelor's Degree in Classical Violin from the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Canarias (Spain). Following this, she pursued advanced studies, earning a Master's Degree in Classical Solo Violin at Katarina Gurska in Madrid (Spain) and subsequently a Master's Degree in Classical Violin at the Prince Claus Conservatory in Groningen (The Netherlands). Her educational path culminated with a second Master's Degree in Classical Violin from The Hague Royal Conservatory in The Hague (The Netherlands).

In addition to her performance career, Laura is an accomplished educator, actively teaching students of all ages and skill levels. Her dedication to sharing her knowledge and passion for the violin has enriched the musical journeys of numerous aspiring musicians.

In the professional sphere, Laura has served as a substitute violinist with esteemed orchestras like Philharmonie Zuidnederland, Residentie Orkest Den Haag, and the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. She also held the position of Concertmaster with Leiden Sinfonietta and has been a member of the Kamerorkest van het Noorden. Additionally, she contributed as a violinist to various international orchestras, including the Noordpool Orkest and Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife (Spain).

Laura's career is characterized by her dedication to violin artistry, her contributions to numerous orchestras, and their commitment to nurturing the talents of her students, reflecting their multifaceted role in the world of music.