Violinist Gabriela Díaz began her musical training at the age of five, studying piano with her mother, and the next year, violin with her father. A childhood cancer survivor, Gabriela is committed to supporting cancer research and treatment as a musician.
In 2004, she was awarded a grant from the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship
to organize a series of chamber music concerts in cancer units at
various hospitals in Boston; this project is now a part of her chamber
music organization and concert series, Winsor Music (winsormusic.org
A fierce champion of contemporary music, Gabriela has worked closely with many significant composers, including Pierre Boulez, Joan Tower, Jessie Montgomery, Tania León, and Helmut Lachenmann. She has recently joined the renowned Kronos Quartet as their new second violinist. She is also a member of The International Contemporary Ensemble, A Far Cry, Castle of Our Skins, Sound Icon, is concertmaster of BMOP, and appears frequently with chamber music ensembles throughout the United States.
Gabriela teaches at Wellesley College and the Longy School of Music at Bard College. Critics have acclaimed Gabriela as “a young violin master,” and “one of Boston’s most valuable players.” Lloyd Schwartz of the Boston Phoenix noted, “…Gabriela Diaz in a bewitching performance of Pierre Boulez’s 1991 Anthèmes. The come-hither meow of Diaz’s upward slides and her sustained pianissimo fade-out were miracles of color, texture, and feeling.” Others have remarked on her “indefatigably expressive” playing, “polished technique,” and “vivid and elegant playing.” Gabriela can be heard on New World, Centaur, BMOPSound, Mode, Naxos, and Tzadik records. Her recording of Lou Harrison’s Suite for Violin and American Gamelan was highlighted in the New York Times article, “5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Classical Music.”
Gabriela is proud to be a core member of the team that created Boston
Hope Music, bringing music to patients and frontline workers during the
pandemic. More info can be found at gabrieladiazviolin.com
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