About
Jorge Ávila has won attention as an outstanding violinist through numerous appearances as a soloist, recitalist, concertmaster, and chamber musician. A recipient of numerous awards and honors, Jorge received his resident status in the United States under the “Extraordinary Talent” category. He was also awarded first prize at the 2001 Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Competition.
Hailed as “a strong violinist” by the NY Times after his performance as a soloist and concertmaster in The Sacred Music in a Sacred Space concert of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis and Haydn Symphonia concertante; Jorge has also performed as a soloist with orchestras in Europe, the U.S., Central and South America. In the New York City area, he has appeared as a soloist with the Ridgefield Symphony, Colonial Symphony, Riverside Orchestra, Hofstra Symphony, New Amsterdam Symphony, City Island Chamber Orchestra, and The Bronx Arts Ensemble.
Jorge has appeared as concertmaster with numerous groups in the tri-state area, including the Stamford Symphony, Greenwich Symphony, Colonial Symphony Orchestra, Westfield Symphony, Oratorio Society, Musica Sacra, Philharmonia Virtuosi, St., Grace Church Orchestra, Gotham Opera, National Chorale, Verismo Opera, José Limón Dance Company, Sonos Chamber Orchestra, Bachanalia, the New Amsterdam Symphony, Tanglewood Music Center, and the Mannes College of Music Orchestra.
He is also the Concertmaster of The Ridgefield Symphony, in CT., Long Island Masterworks, Distinguished Concerts International New York, and The Patrick’s Cathedral Orchestra among many other choral groups in New York City. Jorge is a founding member of the Chalfonte Quartet. In addition, he performs as a chamber musician with the Bronx Arts Ensemble, Simon String Quartet, Abaca String Band, Willow Ensemble, Prism Ensemble and Musicians’ Accord. Jorge has also also performed with the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble. On Broadway, He has performed with numerous orchestras, including most recently the shows: South Pacific, West Side Story and Wicked.
Born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Jorge began his violin studies at age 14. During his studies in Honduras, he received first prize in the “La Botonia” competition. In 1987, Jorge moved to the U.S. to study at the University of Georgia as a full scholarship student, where he served as concertmaster of the orchestra and member of the Pre-College faculty. In 1988, Jorge won the Atlanta Music Club Concerto Competition. That same year, Jorge moved to New York City where he began his studies as a scholarship student at the Mannes College of Music; from Mannes he received both his Bachelor of Music and Professional Studies diplomas. Jorge’s major teachers include Jorge Corpus, David Nadien, Charles Castleman, and Jose Chaín-Barbot.
While attending the Tanglewood Music Center as recipient of the “Omar del Carlo” Fellowship, Jorge studied chamber music with members of the Juilliard Quartet and the Galimir Quartet, as well as with Leon Fleisher, Gilbert Kalish and Timothy Eddy.
Jorge has recorded for the Naxos, Nonesuch Records, Centaur and other labels. He has also performed live on both television and radio.Previous season's highlights include recitals in NYC, Minneapolis, and Costa Rica; performances of the Brahms Violin Concerto and Mozart’s 3rd Concerto; and a memorable performance of The Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with David Finckel, Wu Han and the Salem Chamber Orchestra. On April 20th of 2008, Jorge appeared as Concertmaster for His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, at a televised Mass held at Yankee Stadium.
Jorge made his Carnegie Hall Concerto debut with the DCINY orchestra on Januray 16th, 2012. His recent performances include Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (October, 2011). He made his solo Weill Recital Hall debut at Carnegie Hall in 2009, which featured music from Jorge’s upcoming CD of Spanish Sonatas for violin and piano, was recently released on the Centaur Label.