Cristian Páez

Mexican violinist Cristian Páez, originally from San Jerónimo Tecuanipan, Puebla, began his musical training at the age of six in the mariachi genre, guided by his two older brothers. At age ten, he began his academic training with Maestro Julio A. Saldaña Torres within the Esperanza Azteca social project, where he distinguished himself from a young age through significant participations.

In 2012, he was selected nationally to participate in a memorable concert in Guanajuato before His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Two years later, in 2014, he participated in the Alfredo de Saint Malo Festival in Panama, where he perfected his skills under the direction of Lin He.

Between 2016 and 2018, he received a full scholarship to attend the Indiana University Summer String Academy, studying with internationally renowned professors as well as string quartets. He attended masterclasses with prominent musicians, including Roberto Díaz, Lorenz Nasturica, and Richard Young.

He has participated in numerous orchestral projects under the direction of prestigious conductors, collaborating in side-by-side projects with renowned orchestras, notably the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra and the Minería Symphony Orchestra.

In 2019, as a member of the Lignum Quartet (currently Medina Quartet), he won First Prize in the Mexican National String Quartet Competition, a distinction that allowed them to make their first European tour with concerts in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and France.

Graduating from ISMEA in 2024, Cristian Páez has performed in prestigious venues and institutions. He is currently the director and founder of the Premier Violin Workshop of Puebla.

He is pursuing a Master's degree in performance at the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne (HEMU) in Switzerland, in the class of Maestro Gyula Stuller.