José Miguel
Cueto

Violinist José Miguel Cueto was born in Puerto Rico where he received early piano and violin training. He studied violin with José Figueroa at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. Upon graduation, he was awarded scholarships from the Institute of Culture of Puerto Rico and the Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University, to study with laureate violinist Berl Senofsky.

While pursuing his studies, he was invited to perform in the Masters of Today and Tomorrow Peabody Concert Series with his teacher and violinist Ruggiero Ricci. As recitalist and chamber musician, Cueto has performed extensively with pianist Nancy Roldán, including their Carnegie Hall debut in 1992 in the Weill Recital Hall. He has also performed with cellist Steven Kates, clarinetist Gervase De Peyer, harpist Nicanor Zabaleta, and pianists Jesús M. Sanromá and Leon Fleisher.

Admired by public and critics for his solid technique, rich and beautiful tone, Strad magazine recognized his New York debut as "grounded, confident, and superb." Cueto has performed as guest with the Kennedy Center Chamber Players, the Casals Festival Chamber Music Series, La Gesse in France, the Great Romantics Festival in Canada, and the Alba Music Festival in Italy.

He has been a featured soloist with orchestras around the world, in South America, the Caribbean, China, Europe, and the USA. Throughout his career, he has performed music rarely heard, including repertory from Latin America and by composers whose works have been inexplicably neglected.

José Cueto has served as Concertmaster of the Baltimore Opera, Washington Opera, and Concert Artists of Baltimore orchestras. He is Artist in Residence and Chair of Strings at St. Mary's College of Maryland. José Cueto plays a 1920 Stefano Scarampella violin, featured in this recording, and a 2006 Luiz Bellini.