Violinist Rigo Murillo is one of the few Christian musicians whose artistic gifts range from traditional hymns, to contemporary song arrangements, to the finest classical works for his instrument. His musical renditions are uplifting; appealing to all ages; and greatly anointed of the Lord. His music is exhilarating as well as inspiring. He possesses a well-defined musical expression, a vividly multicolored tone, and a clear, yet spontaneous artistic eloquence.
Rigo’s elegant renditions of the most beloved hymns and contemporary praise and worship songs are full of life and portrait their inspiring spirit, melodic richness and spiritual character. Rigo attributes the excellency of his violin’s sound to the anointing of God and the spiritual gifts the Lord has deposited in him.
J. S. Bach, the proliferous composer of the late baroque period once wrote; “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” It is with this thought in mind that Rigo ministers to his listeners.
Rigo has received honor degrees in violin performance and music education from The University of Southern Mississippi, where he was granted the McGraw Violin Chair Award. He also holds an Artist Diploma in violin performance from the Ollin Yoliztli Institute in Mexico City, where he studied with Sergei Gorbenko, the former concertmaster of the USSR Radio and TV Orchestra. In addition, he has performed in master classes with renowned artists such as Mayumi Fujikawa, Gregory Feigin, and Alexandre Brussilovsky.
Rigo has played as a member of the Pensacola Symphony, Meridian Symphony and Mississippi Opera orchestra, as well as concertmaster of theUSM Symphony. Throughout his career, he has shared stage along with world-acclaimed artists as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Jean Pierre Rampal,Doc Severinsen, and Ray Charles, among others. He has appeared as guest soloist with the Ollin Yoliztli Chamber Orchestra and is featured on several recordings of Classical, Christian, and Jewish music, as well as his own production, titled “My Heart’s Music,” his compilation of instrumental songs performed on violin.
Rigo is an active teacher member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, having studied Suzuki pedagogy with Michelle George and Paul Landefeld. He has been a faculty member at The University of Southern Mississippi Suzuki School, Bass Memorial Academy, Violinspire Suzuki Workshop inHattiesburg, MS, and the American Honor Orchestra Festival.
Rigo Murillo’s musical leadership has taken him to excel as music director of the USM Civic Orchestra, director of operations of the USM Symphony Orchestra, and music director at Mount Sinai Congregation in Mexico City.
In 2002, Rigo founded a successful Suzuki strings program in the Greenville (TX) public schools, where he taught private and group violin lessons for five years. He currently is a Suzuki violin clinician and teaches violin at his studio in the Northeast Dallas area and keeps a chamber music performing schedule.
