Biography

Jorge Martinez-Rios is an Associate Professor at the New Mexico State University Department of Music, conductor for the NMSU Philharmonic, and conductor for La Frontera Philharmonic. He is also principal violist of the Las Cruces Symphony and has a busy performing, conducting and recording agenda for this year.

A Latin Grammy Award-winning artist and recipient of two other Latin Grammy nominations, Martinez-Rios studied viola and piano at the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelia, Mexico where he graduated with honors under the tutelage of professor Gela Dubrova. In 2003, he completed his Master of Music degree in Viola Performance at Western Michigan University. In 2007, he completed another Master of Music degree in chamber music and conducting.

While at WMU, Mr. Martinez was awarded one of the university’s most prestigious awards, the All University Graduate Research and Creative Scholar Award. It was the first time in the history of the university that the Graduate College bestowed such recognition upon the School of Music.

Mr. Martinez specializes in chamber music and he is the violist and founding member of the La Catrina Quartet, which has been hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as “Wonderful ambassadors for music.” He has performed in Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Aruba, El Salvador, and all over the United States.

 Recent appearances include Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall and Symphony Space, in New York; Meany Hall World-Series, Seattle, Chicago Center for the Arts, UCLA Concert Series, Festival Internacional Chihuahua, Mexico; Palacio de Bellas Artes and National Center for the Arts, Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende Music Festival.

 He has recorded more than 10 albums. In 2012 he was a featured artist on the Latin Grammy-winning recording of the Seresta for Double Quartet by Brazilian composer Francisco Mignone with the Cuarteto Latinoamericano on the Sono Luminus Label. In 2014, he was nominated for another Latin Grammy for his recording of String Quartet No. 2 by Cuban composer Yalil Guerra. He was nominated for a 2018 Latin Grammy for String Quartet No. 3 (In memoriam Ludwig Van Beethoven) by the same composer.

 Recently, Dr. Martinez Rios was invited by the National Endowment for the Arts in Mexico to be part of a historical recording compilation, recording the String Trio and the Sonata for Viola and Piano by Jose P. Moncayo.