Abner Jairo Ortiz García plays solo Bach

Jairo grew up in Morelia, in the Mexican state of Michoacán.

In 2018, while at Duquesne, he was selected as the City Music Foundation’s Mexican International Scholar and traveled around Europe to attend workshops, receive lessons from renowned cellists, and perform.

In August 2015, Jairo received the National Youth Award, the highest distinction offered by the Mexican government to young Mexicans.

He has served as a cellist in the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Central American and Caribbean Youth Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Mexico and as principal cellist in the Duquesne University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra.

“I remember when I brought the cello home for the first time and I started to play. I really liked that feeling, that sensation of playing, hugging the instrument. I immediately fell in love,” he said.

Since graduating from Duquesne in May, Jairo has been appointed as a section cellist in the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico.