Member Directory

Mr. Rigo Murillo

Violin, Viola, Suzuki Early Childhood Education Teacher, Administrator SAA Member

Violinist Rigo Murillo has earned a warm respect from his listeners and colleagues for his well-defined musical expression, vividly multicolored tone, and his clear, yet spontaneous artistic eloquence. He is able to capture his audience’s imagination with an inspiring tone and a driving musical conviction. His exhilarating musical expression is able to engage even the youngest audiences. Rigo Murillo offers the most exquisite sounds to the avid listener.

Mr. Murillo is an active teacher member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has served the Suzuki movement as Vice-President of the North Texas Suzuki Association, workshop clinician, and ASJ author. He has been a faculty member at The University of Southern Mississippi Suzuki School, Bass Memorial Academy, Violinspire Suzuki Workshop in Hattiesburg, MS, and the American Honor Orchestra Festival. Rigo Murillo’s musical leadership has taken him to excel as music director of the Southern Mississippi Civic Orchestra, director of operations of the Southern Mississippi Symphony, and music director at Mount Sinai Congregation in Mexico City. He is the founder of the Suzuki strings program in the Greenville (TX) public schools, and teaches private and group violin lessons at the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas, along with keeping a performing schedule in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Rigo has received honor degrees in violin performance and string pedagogy 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 the USM Symphony and the Mesquite 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 Jewish liturgical and folk music, as well as his own production, titled “My Heart’s Music,” his compilation of instrumental songs performed on violin.

Besides performing and teaching, Mr. Murillo enjoys cooking, practicing his photography skills, and volunteering in various community wellness organizations.