About Violinist Edgar Gabriel

Edgar Gabriel’s ability to play in many different styles on the violin keeps him in great demand. Early in his professional career, Edgar was employed as violinist in the piano trio for the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia.

Since then, he has performed with such diverse groups as Mannheim Steamroller, Chicago Opera Theater and The Big Apple Circus. Edgar has worked in many theaters including Steppenwolf, where in 1994 he led an on-stage string quartet in "A Clockwork Orange."

Edgar has performed in numerous jazz, rock and blues venues with lesser known musicians and also notable ones such as Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, the Moody Blues, Smokey Robinson and Dennis DeYoung. Recently, Edgar's versatility has won him positions with the world renown Cirque du Soleil. In 2002 Edgar worked in Las Vegas with their Mystère show, and toured with Dralion in 2003.

As a classical orchestral player, Edgar has worked under conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, James DePriest, Pierre Boulez and Sir George Solti. He has also toured with Andrea Bocelli and his Festival Orchestra. As a young professional, Edgar won positions with The Northwest Indiana Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic and the Elgin Symphony. Edgar's violin teachers include: Gerardo Ribeiro (Northwestern University), Joe Golan (principle 2nd violin of the Chicago Symphony), Pierre Menard (Vermeer Quartet), Frank Beezholt (Concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony), Arnold Brostoff (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), and Mary Rosen (DePaul University).

Edgar is in great demand in the recording studios. His violin can be heard on numerous jingles, soundtracks and CD's heard world wide. He has performed on numerous radio and television programs and has been featured at music festivals throughout the country. Most recently, Edgar was instrumental in arranging and recording string parts with Rachel Barton Pine and Eric Remschneider for the Plain White T's latest CD "Big Bad World." Also notable, Edgar recorded with the rock band Cheap Trick for their "Cheap Trick - Special Once CD.

The only difference between the violin and fiddle is the musician. Edgar plays both, and can be heard playing Irish fiddle and mandolin with The Chicago Rovers, who will release their newest CD on St. Patrick's Day. He also plays Cajun fiddle with Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies. Edgar has recently become the electric violinist with the reformed 1960-70's rock, funk, fusion band, The Flock.

Edgar Gabriel is the other violinist in Rachel Barton's string trio, Stringendo, along with Brandon Vamos on cello. They have thrilled audiences throughout the country with their unique approach to chamber music. Their CD "Storming the Citadel," which is mostly comprised of string trio arrangements of heavy-metal classics, is available on Cacophony Records. In 1998, Edgar released a CD with virtuoso pianist Greg Lawrence entitled, "The Gabriel-Lawrence Inventions." It is a collection of original renderings that challenges the listener to take an intriguing journey amidst classical, Latin, new age, jazz, rock, fusion and heavy metal inflections. Through radio airplay and live performances, Edgar and Greg have elevated listeners to new musical heights nationwide. This CD is available on Density Records.

During the years 1991-1998 Edgar Gabriel was a founding member of the 3rd Coast String Quartet, where he arranged and composed many original works for string quartet. Today, Edgar continues to write and arrange music for strings, other instruments and voices. Edgar's original work can be heard with his band StringFusion. Mr. Gabriel wrote and recorded music for a new PBS WTTW television series entitled "The Spirited Gardener" with host Julia Bunn.

An active educator, Edgar Gabriel taught for many important music schools including the Merit School of Music and the Music Institute of Chicago. Edgar has created a system to teach improvisation, fiddling and other styles of music not usually taught with the traditional classical repertoire. He calls this String Groove®, which he teaches in courses and workshops worldwide. Edgar is currently on the faculties of William Rainey Harper College and Elmhurst College.

Edgar holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from De Paul University. He is also a member of The Chicago Federation of Musicians, local 10-208; (ASCAP), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; a voting member of the National Academy of /Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS); and ASTA (American String Teacher's Association).

Edgar Gabriel's linkedin.com profile

Photo Credit: William Burlingham