Praised for his “warm lyricism and rich passion,” Venezuelan violinist Rubén Rengel was the winner of the 2018 Sphinx Competition. Concerto engagements this season include concerts with the Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, and Vermont Symphonies. He has previously appeared with the Venezuela, Firelands, and Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestras. Rengel is an avid chamber musician, appearing in collaborations with the late Joseph Silverstein, and with Joel Krosnick, Pamela Frank, Timothy Eddy, and Gilbert Kalish. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Shepherd School of Music under the tutelage of Paul Kantor. Previously, he was a student of Jaime Laredo in Cleveland, and Iván Pérez Núñez in Caracas. Rengel is a Kun Shoulder Rests Artist and plays on a 1908 Stefano Scarampella violin on loan from a private collection.