Camilo Vasquez
cello
Camilo Vasquez is a sophomore at the University of North Texas College of Music, pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance as part of the cello studio of Professor Nikola Ruzevic. Accolades include scholarships to the Sphinx Performance Academy at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2019 and 2020, second place in the 2020/2021 Castro Concerto Competition with the Albuquerque Youth Symphony, and first-place winner of the Jackie McGehee Young Artists’ Competition in 2021.
Camilo graduated magna cum laude from Bosque School in 2021. His music education started in elementary school with violin and piano lessons. Then he switched to cello with instructor Leslie Alperin. Throughout high school, Vasquez studied with renowned cellist Joel Becktell. He was also in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony program for five years, the AYS chamber music program, the Bosque Serenata strings ensemble, and the Bosque Cantate choir, plus he participated in the New Mexico All-State Music Festival each year.
Camilo enjoys playing in chamber groups when not playing orchestral and solo repertoire. Some of his favorite memories from his time with AYS are the Christmas concerts, playing with Opera Southwest, and the amazing teachers, conductors, and friends he made during the AYS chamber music performances and gigs. His goal is to continue his studies to be able to give back to his community through music in different ways