RAÚL FERNANDO DOMÍNGUEZ CORTEZ, viola, is a young talented musician from Mexico who began his musical studies at the “Esperanza Azteca" music program in 2010. Raul is studying his bachelor in Music at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez (UACJ), directed by Guillermo Quezada. He is member of the UACJ’s Symphony Orchestra. In 2011 and 2012, he was principal violist at the National Youth Orchestra of Mexico playing at 4 tours around Mexico. Today he is the first viola in the Esperanza Azteca National Orchestra; he has performed with great personalities like Joshua Bell and Placido Domingo. Raúl won the “YOA/Curtis Institute of Music, Scholarship of the Americas”, winning between violists from the whole continent. He was awarded by the Youth Orchestra of the Americas (YOA) with a scholarship to travel to Philadelphia, PA, for the Curtis Summer Fest. He took viola, orchestra and chamber music lessons with Sharon Wei, Brenton Caldwell, Petko Dimitrov, Adam Flatt, Amy Yang, and Rebecca Harris. Raúl won the third place on the Concerto Competition of the Young Artist Program, playing the “Stamitz Viola Concerto”. He played in the masterclass of Mr. Roberto Diaz, President and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music.

Raul Fernando Dominguez Cortez performing at the 2015 EPSMF Competition for Young Musicians

Samuel Barron is a sophomore in the IB program at Coronado High School and has been playing the piano for ten years under the instruction of Anna Habicht.  He has participated in numerous competitions both at the local and state levels and performs frequently in recitals with the El Paso Music Teachers Association. At school, he is a member of the Chess Club, Future Doctors of America Club, and Ultimate Frisbee Club.  Samuel hopes to study medicine and to become a doctor, yet, according to Samuel “I will always continue to play the piano. . . “

Samuel Barron performing at the 2015 EPSMF Competition for Young Musicians

Jeeyoon Kim is a sophomore in the IB program at Coronado High School. She started music at the age of six, first with piano, then violin and flute. Jeeyoon has been playing violin for eight years. She has participated in All Region for the past five years and was in the TMEA All State String Orchestra twice. She hopes to become a four year all-stater. Jeeyoon is currently vice president of the Coronado Key Club and plays in the Coronado High School Orchestra.

Jeeyoon Kim performing at the 2015 EPSMF Competition for Young Musicians

El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future.

Promoting a greater musical understanding in the El Paso, TX community through outreach, education, and celebration thru classical music.