About Me
Violist Joel G. Pagán enjoys a multifaceted career as an educator, chamber and solo recitalist. Pagán completed his Doctoral of Musical Arts in May 2004 at Michigan State University under the tutelage of I Fu Wang and Robert Dan.Born in Puerto Rico, Pagán started the violin at age twelve. In 1998 he graduated from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and in the year 2000 he received a Masters of Music in violin/viola performance from the University of Akron. Previous teachers have included Pamela Ryan at the Schlern Iternational Music Festival, Sally Thomas and Ann Setzer of the Meadowmount School of Music, William Terwilliger at the Brevard Music Festival, Alan Bodman at the University of Akron, and legendary Puerto Rican violinist José Figueroa at the Puerto Rico Conservatory.As an orchestral musician, Joel has performed with the Puerto Rico Philharmonic, the Puerto Rico Chamber Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Jackson Symphony, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, Youth Symphony of America, and he has served as principal of the viola section in the Midland Symphony and Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra. As well, he served several times as guest principal viola of the Battle Creek Symphony.As a chamber musician Joel has performed with the University of Akron Graduate Quartet and toured with the Michigan State University Trio to Bolivia and Puerto Rico where they offered recitals and master classes in the National Conservatory. Currently Joel is the violist of the Völs Quartet, with whom he has performed through northern Italy, Canada, United States, and the Caribbean. Pagan's chamber coaches include Joaquin Vidaechea, Christian Teal, Nathalia Khoma, Vag Papian, Andrew Dawes, and Laurece Lesser among others.Joel has performed in the Brevard Music Festival, the Casals Festival Youth Symphony, and the Schlern International Music Festival. As well, during several summers he studied at the Meadowmount School of Music. Joel is very active as a solo and chamber musician. He has performed solo and chamber recitals throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Canada, and Italy.Formerly on the Laredo Community College faculty, currently Joel is a member of the University of Texas- Pan American faculty. As well, he was featured as guest artist and faculty together with the Völs Quartet at the Robert Asp Festival in Moorhead, Minnesota.
