Rafa Prendergast

Brooklyn based violinist Rafa Prendergast is an active performer of works dating from the early 17th century through the present day. A member of Nuova Pratica and La forza delle stelle Baroque Orchestra, Rafa also performs frequently with Trinity Baroque Orchestra, ARTEK, ChamberQUEER, Kollective366, Opera Essentia, Opera Praktikos, and dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, among others. They have performed as part of the Death of Classical series, Gotham Early Music Scene’s Midtown Concerts series, and WQXR’s Midday Masterpieces series, and as a soloist with Juilliard415, Music City Baroque, and American Bach Soloist Academy orchestra.

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Notable masterclasses include William Christie, Harry Bicket, and Rachel Podger. Rafa is an avid ensemble musician and has performed chamber music in venues from the west coast to New York City and abroad, most notably, in Paris at the Cité de la Musique. As an orchestral musician, Rafa has traveled around the world with Juilliard415, from regular performances at Alice Tully Hall to the Grand salle Pierre Boulez with Les Arts Florissants, and toured across New Zealand with Chamber Music New Zealand. They have also participated in festivals including Madeline Island Chamber Music, California Summer Music, the Colorado Music Festival, and Vanderbilt Music Academy in Aix-en-Provence. Rafa has been awarded the Jean Keller Heard Prize for Excellence in String Performance, the Potter Opportunity Award, and a Juilliard Career Grant.

 

Rafa holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, studying under Carolyn Huebl and Maria Romero and graduating magna cum laude; and a Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School studying with Cynthia Roberts, Elizabeth Blumenstock, and Robert Mealy, and was a recipient of the full tuition Historical Performance Scholarship.

 

Rafa is represented by WoopWoop Music @woopwoopmusic.