About Isaac Casal
Known for his joy and positive attitude,
Isaac Casal is a Panamanian artist who has brought recognition to his
country on an international level. Isaac has appeared in numerous solo
recitals, chamber music concerts, and as soloist with orchestras
throughout Europe and North and South America . He was a finalist in
both the 2004 Florida International University soloist competition and
the 2005 Baylor University concerto competition.
Isaac's first performance in the United States took place in the summer of 1998 when he was invited to play with his brother, violinist Luis Casal, at the Embassy of Panama in Washington, D.C. In April of 2006 he performed as chamber musician in New York City with the celebrated pianist Juan Martin Etcheverry at the Hammarskjöld Auditorium of the United Nations and at the Argentine Consulate for the organization "Artists for a United World," an organization that promotes universal brotherhood through art of which he has served as a member since April 2006. Additionally, Isaac keeps an active agenda performing in recitals throughout the United States and Central America with his brother Luis Casal and the Latinum Duet, an ensemble that he co-founded with Panamanian pianist Victor Soto.
An
experienced orchestra player, Isaac Casal served as principal cellist
of the Youth Symphony of Panama and was one of the youngest cellists to
join the cello section of the National Symphony of Panama. In 2003 he
became the first Panamanian to join the Youth Orchestra of the Americas
(YOA) international tours performing alongside renowned conductors such
as Carlos Miguel Prieto, Isaac Karabtchvsky, Benjamin Zander, Gustavo
Dudamel, and Placido Domingo. He was a member of the YOA from 2003 to
2008. The highlight of his relationship with the organization included
touring with Paquito D'Rivera as a member of the YOA Camerata.
Eager to share his knowledge and experiences with his fellow musicians from Panama , Isaac travels to his hometown frequently to give master classes and lessons. He is the President and founder of the Fundación Sinfonía Concertante de Panamá (Sinfonia Concertante de Panama Foundation), foundation whose mission is to create educational music programs for low income children and youth in general; and he is Artistic Director, creator, and founder of the Alfredo Saint-Malo Music Festival of Panama (an annual one week festival that saw its inception on May 25, 2007). Highly praised by the national press, the Alfredo Saint-Malo Music Festival promotes music education, music appreciation, and classical music performances throughout the city of Panama and its vicinities. It also offers educational outreach programs to private and public schools, universities, and conservatories engaging children to perform and listen to live chamber music, interacting with the festival's faculty of national and international artists.
Isaac Casal began his cello studies with Juan Carlos Rodó at the age of 7 and later with Jaime Ledezma, principal cellist of the National Symphony of Panama, until his death in 1992. From the age of nine, he participated in music camps organized by the Concert Association of Panama, and in 1997 participated as a member of the National Symphony of Panama in the Festival Mundial de la Juventud (World Youth Festival) in Havana , Cuba . In the summer of 1998 he traveled to Annapolis , Maryland , to attend the Daniel Heifetz International Institute through a scholarship granted by Daniel Heifetz. In 2000, Isaac was awarded a scholarship to study with Karen Melik-Stefanov at the Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall , MN made possible by Panamanian harpsichordist Julieta Alvarado and her husband Dr. Daniel Rieppel. In August of 2001 he transferred to Florida International University after being offered a scholarship to study under Keith Robinson, cellist of the Miami String Quartet. He later studied at FIU with Javier Arias, cellist of the Amernet String Quartet. In 2005 Isaac was offered a scholarship to study cello under Gary Hardy at Baylor University were he earned his masters degree in cello performance. He currently studies cello under Andres Diaz in the Artist Certificate Program at Southern Methodist University where he was recently awarded the Meadows Artistic Scholarship Award.
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