One of Panama’s leading violinists and violists, Luis Casal is vice president of the Sinfonía Concertante Foundation of Panama, honorary academic advisor to the Alfredo Saint Malo Music Festival, violin instructor of the Queensborough Community College’s Office of Continuing Education, and violin/viola instructor of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music (New York). He recently held the position of Principal Violist to the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, violist of the Laredo String Quartet, and violin and viola instructor at the Laredo Community College, Texas, USA. Known for his charisma, versatility, and musicality, Mr. Casal is a favorite among audiences and has quickly established himself in both art and folk music stages.  He has represented his country in events in England, France, Japan, Italy, Spain, and the United States.

An experienced orchestra player, Mr. Casal has held the position of Principal Violist ad honorem of the National Symphony of Panama (1998-2002) and Concertmaster of the Butler Symphony Orchestra in Butler, Pennsylvania (1998-2000).  Some of the prestigious conductors he has worked under include Sergio Commissiona, Charles Dutoit, David Effron, Larry Rachleff, Juan Pablo Izquierdo, Eduardo Díaz-Muñóz, and Elisabeth Heath Charles.

Mr. Casal has played as soloist with the National Symphony of Panama, the Chamber Orchestra of the National University of Panama, the Isthmus Youth Symphony of Panama, the Glenelg Chamber Orchestra, and the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra.

A sought out chamber player, Mr. Casal keeps an active agenda performing violin and viola recitals. Recent performances have included chamber music appearances in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall and Merkin Hall (New York). Future commitments include duo recitals along with his brother, cellist Isaac Casal, trio recitals in partnership with the Latinum Duet, and collaboration with Korean pianist Wonsun Bae and Panamanian pianist Abdiel Lombana.

Mr. Casal is also enthusiastic about collaborating with young composers having most recently premiered pieces by Mikolja Gorecki, Alexandra Dubois, Carlos Bernales, and Bartosz Smoragiewicz. 

Aside from his duties as a performer, Mr. Casal invests much time as a pedagogue. He was first appointed violin teacher at the National Institute of Music in Panama in 1996, but left his position to continue his studies. He maintains a close relationship with the arts in Panama by frequently giving lectures and master classes in several of Panama’s universities. In 2003 he was appointed viola teacher of the 2003 Oklahoma Arts Institute Summer Festival in Quartz Mountain, Oklahoma. In November 2006 and November 2007 he was invited to serve as conductor and clinician of the Region 14 Middle School Orchestra in Texas, and in January 2008 Mr. Casal led a music seminar for the National Institute of Culture of Panama and the Danilo Perez Foundation.

Mr. Casal’s discography includes Gustavo Salamín y Luis Casal, Música de Cámara Folclórica Panameña (Panamanian Folk Chamber Music) released in 2002, and Luis Casal: Homage to Panama, released in January 2007 by the label Earthcds Partners.

Luis began his violin studies at the age of 6 under professor Jorge Vergara and in 1992 moved to the United States to study under scholarship at the New World School of the Arts. He holds degrees from the University of Florida (with honors), Carnegie Mellon University, Indiana University, and the University of Oklahoma. His major teachers include Cathy Robinson, the Miami String Quartet, Carolyn Huebl, Matthew Dane, Daniel Heiftetz, Atar Arad, and Ilya Kaler.

THE PANAMA NEWS – Vol. 9, No. 15, August 3-16, 2003
“Panamanian Violist … played a wide range of difficult pieces, establishing his place among this country’s musical elite … So yes, Panama does have a worthy classical scene, and right at the top of it we find Luis Enrique Casal.”

THE NORMAN TRANSCRIPT – August 12, 2005
“Casal alternated between conducting the orchestra, singing with a strong tenor and playing masterful violin. He's a natural.”