Ilmar López-Gavilán Junco is an exceptional Cuban violinist; he was born in 1974 in Havana. He began his musical studies at the Manuel Saumell Elementary School (660 F Street, Vedado, Havana) with Professor Alla Tarán. Upon completion of these studies, due to his excellent academic results, he was selected to continue his secondary education at the School Annexed to the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, where he attended classes with Professor Maya Glizarova.

Ilmar attended two years of instruction with Professor Zakhav Bron at the Reina Sofía Conservatory in Madrid and master classes with the legendary Yehudi Menuhin. During this time, he was invited to take a course with Abraham Stern in Los Angeles, California, which enabled him to obtain a scholarship at the University of Los Angeles.

At just 12 years old, she performed as a soloist for the first time, with the National Symphony Orchestra. Her orchestral debut in Spain was with the Camerata Brindis de Salas.

Ilmar López-Gavilán has performed recitals and concerts with various orchestras in various countries, including Spain, Russia, Poland, Santo Domingo, Mexico, Venezuela, and the United States. He has performed in important venues such as Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center, the Royal Albert Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the New Jersey Music Center with Paquito De Rivera, and as a personal guest of Maestro Claudio Abbado with the Gustav Malher Youth Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Boulez.

He has won the Grand Prize at the Amadeo Roldán Competition on several occasions. He has also been a laureate at the Lipinsky-Wienawsky Competition in Poland; twice at the Henryk Szeryng Competition in Mexico; First Prize at the Manhattan Schools of Music as a soloist in 2000; the Sphinx Competition in Michigan, USA, in 2001; and Concertmaster at the Manhattan School of Music in USA in the same year; he was nominated at Cubadisco 2001 in the categories of Concert Soloist and First Work; and he also won First Prize at the Sphinx Competition in the United States in 2005.

Ilmar López-Gavilán has been invited to give master classes on several occasions at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) (1110 Calle 120 between 9th and 13th, Cubanacán, Playa, Havana). This talented Cuban musician earned his doctorate from the Julilliard School of Music and is a member of the “Thallis” Quartet.

Likewise, Ilmar has been deservedly considered by specialized critics on repeated occasions as an essential exponent for the younger generations of Cuban violinists.