Profile
Juan Carlos Higuita
Besides being a highly accomplished Colombian violinist and Latin Grammy nominee, Juan Carlos Higuita occupies a unique place in the music world. He is a very distinctive specialist: an instrumentalist who has dedicated himself entirely to contemporary Latin American music.
He currently teaches violin and chamber music at the National University of Colombia and the Pontifical Javeriana University. He is a member of the Bogotá Piano Trio and the CG Ensemble, which specializes in contemporary music. For nine years, he was first violin of the Q-ARTE Quartet, one of Latin America’s leading quartets.
Education
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN INSTRUMENTAL PEDAGOGY | UNIVERSITY OF MUSIC OF VIENNA
Completed undergraduate studies in instrumental pedagogy with academic excellence
MASTER’S DEGREE IN CONCERT VIOLIN | VIENNA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
During his time in Vienna, he studied with Roswita Randacher, Jussuf Karajev, and Timon Hornig.
MASTER OF MUSIC WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN CHAMBER MUSIC | PONTIFICAL JAVERIANA UNIVERSITY
Under the tutelage of Professor Richard Young, he was awarded the title of Master of Music with a specialization in chamber music from the Pontifical Javeriana University.
COURSES: BAROQUE VIOLIN, JAZZ VIOLIN, AND IMPROVISATION
In addition, his participation in courses on baroque violin, jazz violin, and improvisation, as well as in masterclasses and advanced training with renowned teachers such as Hermann Krebbers, Gidon Kremer, and Zakhar Bron, has allowed Juan Carlos Higuita to perform a variety of genres with great versatility.
Experience
SOLOIST
Throughout his career, he has been invited to perform as a soloist with the most important orchestras in Colombia.
CONCERTINO OR GUEST MUSICIAN
He has performed as concertmaster or guest musician with ensembles such as Florilegium Musicum Wien, Orpheon Consort Wien, Orpheus Ensemble München, Tonkünstler Ensemble, and City of London Sinfonia, among others.
CHAMBER MUSIC
His great interest in chamber music has led him to participate with different groups in various festivals such as the International Guitar Festival in Nuremberg (Germany); Die Lange Nacht der Musik in Vienna (Austria); the Early Music Festival in Gijón (Spain); the Cartagena International Music Festival (Colombia); the Chicago Latino Music Festival (USA); and the Instrumenta Oaxaca Festival (Mexico), among others.
GUEST PERFORMER OR PROFESSOR
Juan Carlos Higuita has participated as a guest performer or professor in programs at various theaters and universities in the United States, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. He has also recorded for French Television, Austrian Radio, and Italian Television.
Testimonios
“Some musicians believe that a well-written score contains the music; they are wrong. They think that never missing a note is the goal; they are also wrong. They think that adding more notes makes it better—how awful! A very well-written score contains everything…except the music. Never missing a note is a big mistake. Adding more notes is like not hearing the silence…”
Rodolfo Medreros
“…Juan Carlos Higuita understands this very well and makes it a reality, adding the necessary dose of passion for all music and achieving this in tango as well.”
Rodolfo Medreros
“…His unique sound, combined with his proven technique and great versatility, makes him an exceptional performer…”
Blas Emilo Atehortua
“Juan Carlos Higuita is one of the most outstanding violinists in Latin America today. Possessing great technical skill, what stands out most, however, is his charismatic musical personality.”
Saúl Bitran
“Juan Carlos Higuita is an exceptional violinist. His dedication demonstrates not only precision, but also a passionate interpretive and musical sensibility.”
Alejandro Escuer
“…the marathon that the Colombian violinist undertook, simply by playing eight concertos (Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s Estaciones Porteñas), was a great achievement… Sufficient technique and a tasteful approach to interpretation were the main foundations of his work, as well as a beautiful sound appropriate to both pieces.”
