Luis Casal

One of Panama’s leading violinists and violists, Luis Casal was awarded “Remarkable Citizens of Panama 2015" by Panama’s National Commission Pro Civic Values and Morals. Mr. Casal is vice president of the Sinfonía Concertante Foundation of Panama and honorary academic adviser to the Alfredo Saint Malo Music Festival. He has performed and/or given master classes in the Bahamas, England, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, the United States, and Uruguay.

Mr. Casal has held the position of Principal Violist ad honorem of the National Symphony of Panama, Principal Violist of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Concertmaster of the Butler Symphony Orchestra in Butler, Pennsylvania, Concertmaster of the Viola Ensemble of the 2003 Tertis International Viola Workshop and Competition, and guest concertmaster of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra. He is co-founder and member of the Camerata Alfredo De Saint Malo, and currently performs as concertmaster of the ADCA Symphony Orchestra, principal second violin of the Musica De Camara String Orchestra (New York), principal violist of the Metro Chamber Orchestra, violist of the Paramount Chamber Players, and violinist of Isaac Casal’s quartet “Ensemblast Project.”

Composers who have dedicated compositions for him include Darwin Aquino, Dinos Constantinides, Carlos Bernales, Jorge Figueroa, Katia Tiutiunnik, and Norberto Ulloa. Mr. Casal’s recordings as leading artist can be found under Earthcds Partners and Multicultura Media’s Rootstock Recording.

He holds degrees from New World School of the Arts (with honors), Carnegie Mellon University, Indiana University, and the University of Oklahoma.  His major teachers include Jorge Vergara, Carmen Cedeño, Cathy Robinson, the Miami String Quartet, Carolyn Huebl, Matthew Dane, Daniel Heiftetz, Atar Arad, and Ilya Kaler.