About this Artist

A native of Venezuela, violinist Dr. Francisco Diaz holds a Doctorate Degree, M.S in Violin from the Simón Bolívar University in where he studied with Jose Francisco del Castillo (Galamian School), as well as B.S and M.S (Music Education) from the Liberator University. In Reina Sofia International Music School of Spain, he studied with Jose Luis Garcia Asensio, and he received direct guidance from famous international musicians, such as Margaret Pardee, Albert Markov, Oliver Charlier, Agustin Dumay, Agustín León Ara, Yossi Zivonni, Rubén González, among others.

As an enthusiastic musician, Dr. Diaz has performed extensively as a soloist, orchestra and chamber musician, orchestra coach or guest teacher in Latin America, Europe, Canada and United States. In Vienna (2006) he performed with John Adams in his Opera Premier “A Flowering Tree”. Also, he has served as a jury member for many national and international competitions including “Rodolfo Lipizer” International Violin Competition (Lipizer Prize) in Italy (2013).

As an educator, for more than 30 years, he served as Principal of Latin-American Violin Academy of El Sistema, as Professor of Lisandro Alvarado University, as coach of violin section of Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra (El Sistema), and the National Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela in preparation for international tours (Salzburg, Milan, Italy, Europe, USA) with renowned conductors such as Giuseppe Sinopoli, Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle and Gustavo Dudamel. His former students have become exemplary string educators, professional studio and symphony musicians, and passionate arts advocates.

As vibrant String Faculty, he served at Patel Conservatory of Straz Center of Performing Arts, Chair and Faculty of the “Sunstate Orchestral Program-El Sistema” in Tampa, Faculty of (YOLA) National Festival of Los Angeles Philharmonic. In Hillsborough County Schools was appointed conductor of “All County Orchestra” since 2023. 

As a social transformation through music activist and researcher, Dr. Diaz has been speaker in San Martin University in Argentina, Batuta Foundation in Colombia, National Conservatory of Puerto Rico, El Sistema Boston, Florida Music Educator Association Conference, University of South Florida, and recently in Tampa Bay area through his project “Music for Refugee” of Sunstate Orchestral Program in where he has helped more of (500) Hispanic families.

He got the “Prestige Hispanic Award-2021” of Hispanic Chamber of City of Tampa. He lives in Clearwater with his wife, daughter, boys and a dog.