THE MUSICIAN

          Gabriel Knights-Herrera is currently a graduate student at the University of Redlands where he is pursuing a Master’s of Music in Viola Performance under Kira Blumberg. He currently holds a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from CSU, San Bernardino where he studied with Dr. Lucy Lewis and completed composition studies under Dr. Kevin Zhang. A multi-faceted musician, Gabriel actively works as a performer, educator, and composer throughout Southern California. 

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          As a performer, Gabriel has performed alongside orchestras such as the Temecula Valley Symphony and Coachella Valley Symphony under Maestro John Mario di Constanzo, as well as the Southland Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Sylvia Mann, where he is currently the principal violist. 

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          A dedicated studio teacher, Gabriel currently manages his own private studio of violin and viola students in Rialto, California. As a registered Suzuki teacher he frequently enjoys attending Suzuki institutes to deepen his pedagogical knowledge. He is also involved in public school education, being the string specialist for Ontario and Montclair High Schools, as well as being a frequent guest for the SBCMEA County Honor Orchestra. 

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          Significant highlights of Gabriel’s compositional work include the 2025 premiere of his brand new Fairy-Tale Quartet, by his own string quartet, and Lightshards, a suite for violin, viola, and chamber orchestra with the composer and violinist Priscilla Ibarra as the featured soloists. As a composer for young musicians, Gabriel has been commissioned by Musica, a string program based in San Jacinto, California, for a new string work entitled Chronicles, and by the W. A. Carter High School Orchestra for the new string work Twilight Carousel both of which have scheduled premieres for Spring 2026.