2023 Nebraska All-State Orchestra

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2023 ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR BIO

Latin Grammy-nominated conductor Luis Viquez continues to gain attention as one of the most influential Central American musicians of his generation for his versatile career as an orchestral, opera, and wind band conductor. A native of Costa Rica, he currently serves as the Director of Orchestral Studies and Assistant Professor of Orchestral Conducting at the University of Rhode Island, following an acclaimed seven-year tenure as the Director of Orchestral Activities Endowed Chair and Music Director of the University of South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the University of South Dakota Opera from 2016-2023. Under Dr. Viquez's guidance, the orchestral program at the University of South Dakota earned both national and international acclaim as one of the most vibrant institutions for orchestral studies in the Midwest region.

A sought-after guest conductor, Dr. Viquez has led featured performances throughout the United States, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and England, collaborating with ensembles such as the Orquesta Sinfónica de Heredia (Costa Rica), the Cartago Municipal Orchestra (Costa Rica), the National Wind Orchestra of Guatemala, the Cherokee Symphony (IA), the Emporia Symphony Orchestra (KS), the Midwest Chamber Ensemble (KS) and the Hastings Symphony (NE). Recently, he has held conducting fellowships with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (PA), the Saratoga Orchestra (WA), and the Chamber Orchestra of New York.

His discography includes the albums Costa Rica desde Afuera recorded with the Heredia Symphony Orchestra, with chamber orchestra works by Andres Soto, José Mora, Pablo Chin, and Guido Sánchez; Get Along ´Yotes with orchestral music by Corrado Maria Saglietti and Eddie Mora; and El Ruido del Agua - Music by Eddie Mora featuring the University of South Dakota Symphony, nominated for the 23rd Latin Grammy Awards in the category of Best Classical Music Album, and Observations on... with orchestral music by Rocío Sanz, Deanna Wehrspann, Andrés Soto, Stephen Yarbrough, and Steven Landis, recently released by Mark Records.

Parallel to his career as a conductor, Dr. Viquez is an accomplished clarinetist. He has appeared as a soloist with the South Dakota Symphony, the Sioux City Municipal Band, and the Heredia Symphony. In the early years of his career, he served as a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica and toured with the World Youth Wind Orchestra in Taiwan. His chamber music performances have been broadcasted by the South Dakota Public Broadcasting and the University of Costa Rica Broadcasting System.

Dr. Viquez holds degrees from the University of Costa Rica (BM – Clarinet Performance), Truman State University (MA – Clarinet Performance & MA - Wind Band Conducting), and UMKC Conservatory (DMA – Orchestral Conducting). He is a clarinet artist for the brands Royal Global Clarinets and D’Addario Woodwinds USA and currently serves as the National Vice President of the College Orchestra Directors Association.

2023 ALL-STATE REGISTRATION AND AUDITION DATES

August 14 - September 4: All-State registration for students open ($25 application fee).

September 5 - September 11: Late registration for All-State available ($50 application fee).

September 11 @ 11:59 p.m. CST: Registration closed, no more applications accepted.

September 13 - September 23 @ 11:59 p.m. CST: Website portal opens and closes for instrumental audition uploads.

October 16 @ 8:00 a.m. CST: All-State selections announced.

ALL-STATE REGISTRATION AND AUDITION UPLOADS ARE NOW CLOSED

2023 ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA REPERTOIRE