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 Jimi 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.

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. Recently, Edgar has recorded with the rock band Cheap Trick for their "Special One" 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.

An active educator, Edgar Gabriel has been on the faculty of the Merit School of Music since 1991. 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 throughout the country. Recently, Edgar has been hired to the faculty of William Rainey Harper College, to teach String Groove.

Edgar holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from DePaul 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).
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Photo Credit: William Burlingham