Andrés Cárdenes
Imig Music Building
Mailing Address: 301 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0301
Violin
Guest Artist in Residence
Andrés Cárdenes is recognized worldwide as a musical phenomenon, parlaying his talents into one of classical music’s most versatile careers. A ferocious, passionate and personally charismatic artist, Cuban-born Cárdenes has garnered international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for his compelling solo violin, conducting, viola, chamber music, concertmaster, and recording performances. Since catapulting into the upper tier of violin virtuosos after capturing Second Prize in the 1982 Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition (Moscow), he has appeared as soloist with over 100 orchestras on four continents and is in growing demand as a conductor. His appearances as guest conductor with numerous international orchestras have received rave reviews. Mr. Cárdenes has served as Artistic Director and Leader of the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra since its inception in 1999. His renowned teaching and pedagogical career, which began as an assistant to teacher and mentor Josef Gingold at Indiana University, spans over 30 years. Today, he holds the title of Distinguished Professor of Violin Studies and the Dorothy Richard Starling/Alexander Speyer Jr. Endowed Chair at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music. A Cultural Ambassador for UNICEF from 1980-1991, and an indefatigable spokesperson for the arts, he has received numerous awards for his career and humanitarian efforts, most notably from the cities of Los Angeles and Shanghai. He was named Pittsburgh Magazine’s Classical Artist of the Year in 1997 and received the 2001 “Shalom” Award from Kollell’s International Jewish Center for promoting world harmony and peace through music. He accepted the position of Music Director of Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs in 2009.
Mr. Cárdenes performs on a vioin made in 1719 by Petrus Guarneri.