Highly-acclaimed Chilean violinist-conductor, JUAN LUIS MUNOZ, has made South Africa his home for the past 25 years, playing a very active and vital role in the country’s musical life.

Born in Santiago, he studied under Prof. Fernando Ansaldi and Prof. Sergio Prieto at the Catholic University of Santiago (Chile).  There, he was Concertmaster of the University of Santiago Symphony Orchestra and toured throughout Chile, Argentina and Peru as Soloist and Concertmaster of the Pro-Musica Orchestra.

Mr. Munoz moved to South Africa as sub-principal violinist of the CAPAB Orchestra. He has since then performed numerous concerts as Concertmaster and Soloist of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Johannesburg Music Initiative, Free State Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and as Conductor of the Cape Town Baroque Ensemble which he founded.

A strong advocate of chamber music and an energetic mentor, Mr. Munoz took an important part in the development of the Franschhoek Mountain Chamber Music Festival, acting as coach and conductor for what has become one of the most important annual events in the country. He has performed throughout South Africa in various ensembles, including the CAPAB String Quartet, the Michaelis Chamber Music Players, the Pro Musica Trio, and the Rhodes Trio. From 2000-2004, he led the New Odeion String Quartet, the only resident university string quartet in the country, while lecturing in violin and Viola at the Free State University in Bloemfontein. From 2004-2015 he was a Senior Lecturer in Violin, Viola and Conducting at the Rhodes University.

In recent years, Mr. Munoz has combined his instrumental expertise, his orchestral experience and his natural ability and enthusiasm to work with musicians of diverse backgrounds into yet another passion – conducting. He had two wonderful teachers, Carl St. Clair music director of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra and Bernhard Gueller, a frequent guest conductor in North America, Europe and South Africa.

In 2015 he moved to the Philippines, currently he is a part time Professor in Violin and Conducting at Saint Scholastica College, Mr. Munoz is also teaching for the Ang Misyon and conducting the Youth Filipino Orchestra (YFO)

Mr. Munoz has conducted concerts and concerto festivals in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Grahamstown, Cape Town Philhamonic Orchestra, ACMP Orchestra, Rhodes String Ensemble and Orchestra, Bulgaria (New Symphony Orchestra of Sofia) the Manila Symphony Orchestra (Philippines), The Classic Symphony Orchestra of the Santiago University (Chile), The Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (South Africa), SSC Chamber Orchestra and the YFO of Ang Misyon (Philippines)

Mr. Munoz has recorded various CD’s with the New Odeion String Quartet and as Conductor of the Amateur Chamber Music Players. His performances have been recorded for SABC and Classic FM and broadcasted on Fine Music Radio.