Born in Chicago in 1992, violoncellist Gabriel Cabezas commenced his music studies at age four. Gabriel has been portrayed as “…an intense player who connects to the music naturally, without artifice, and brings a singing line to the cello” (David Stabler, The Oregonian) and his debut performance with The Cleveland Orchestra described as a “…remarkably poised and elegant account, with superb attention to phrasing, nuance and tonal coloration” (Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer).
Gabriel has performed with artist Béla Fleck in the televised program “From The Top – Live from Carnegie Hall” and with the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra at “The Sphinx Gala Concert,” both at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He has made appearances on the National Public Radio (NPR) programs “From The Top” and “Performance Today,” and Chicago’s WFMT 98.7’s “Introductions,” as well as performances in Chicago’s Music in the Loft, “Exploring Music Live with Bill McLaughlin” and The Northeastern Illinois University’s Music Series.
Gabriel has performed as a guest soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, the New World Symphony, the Florida Symphony Orchestra, the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the MYA Orchestras, the Nashville Symphony, the Rackham Symphony Choir and the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, among others. More recently, Gabriel was
invited to open the 2008 Official Season of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica as guest soloist in the historic National Theatre in San Jose, Costa Rica in March 2008. In February 2007, Gabriel released “Moyugba Orisha,” his first compact disc with Portuguese pianist Alexandra Mascolo-David featuring a collection of Latin American works for violoncello and piano on the White Pine recording label. In March 2007, Gabriel’s first orchestral work entitled “March” premiered by the Northbrook Symphony under the direction of Lawrence Rapchak.
Gabriel is a Second Prize Winner of the prestigious 2007 – 2008 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, as well as the recipient of “The Emerging Artist Prize of the Seattle Chamber Music Festival“ and “The Sander Buchman Memorial Prize.” Additionally, Gabriel received the First Prize Award of the 2008 CSO Youth Auditions securing a debut as soloist with the renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Gold Medal of the Junior Division of the 2008 Fischoff Chamber Music National Competition (The Quartet Polaris). Also, Gabriel is the First Prize Laureate of the Junior Division of the 2006 Sphinx National Competition, the Overall Performance Winner of the Midwest Young Artists Open Division of the 2005 Walgreens National Competition, the Bronze Medal Winner of the Junior Division of the 2005 Fischoff Chamber Music National Competition (BAM String Quartet), and the Overall Performance Winner of the Midwest Young Artists Junior Division of the 2004 Walgreens National Competition. He also received “The María Isabel Prieto Award” at the Fifth Carlos Prieto Violoncello International Competition for his “extraordinary talent and magnificent performances.”
Gabriel actively supports and participates in community outreach programs for the youth through entities such as The Sphinx Organization and From The Top in the United States, and the Programa Nacional de Educación Musical (SINEM) of the Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud / Ministry of Culture and Youth in Costa Rica.
Gabriel studies under the tutelage of Professor Hans Jørgen Jensen of Northwestern University and Meadowmount School of Music, studies music composition with Dr. Matthew Hagle, attends The Academy of The Music Institute of Chicago, and is a student of the New Trier Township High School in the Chicago area.
Gabriel plays a distinctive violoncello crafted in 1934 by Chicago’s legendary luthier Carl G. Becker.