About

Jesús Cervantes (he/him) is a San Diego-based violinist and teaching artist whose work bridges classical and contemporary music through interdisciplinary collaboration. His artistic practice integrates electroacoustic sound, improvisation, and movement, creating dynamic and innovative performances.

He has appeared across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China, and regularly performs with organizations including Opera Neo, DISCO RIOT, Sonoma Bach, Project [BLANK], San Diego City Ballet, and Poway Symphony Orchestra. His teaching philosophy focuses on empowering students to develop an artistic identity that reflects their unique creative journeys, shaped by personal experience and diverse global musical traditions.

Recent projects include a 2025 spring residency at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego with choreographer Radhika Karandikar, which culminated in performances of an original site-specific work that explored the intersection of memories and physical presence through dance, music, visuals, and poetry.

Jesús joined the Next Festival of Emerging Artists in June 2024 for performances with guest artists Curtis Stewart and Seth-Parker Woods in Chatham and New York City, as well as a residency at Gibney Dace, creating new pieces with mentorship from choreographer Sidra Bell and composers Peter Askim & Aaron Kernis. His recording credits include Bacewicz & Bartók: Folk Dances for Two Violins (ft. Ayrton Pisco), and the National Orchestral Institute’s Grammy-nominated album, Harbison, Ruggles, & Stucky: Orchestral Works (“Best Orchestral Performance” 2018).

He attended the Domaine Forget International Music Academy in Quebec (summers 2017, 2018), where he had the opportunity to study with renowned artists including Noah-Bendix Balgley, Midori Goto, and Mark Fewer. He has also trained at Indiana University’s String Academy, where he worked with Sarah Kapustin.

Jesús graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from San Diego State University, where he studied with Dr. Pei-Chun Tsai Liebhaber. He currently maintains a private violin studio, and is an orchestra coach at Mira Mesa High School and Point Loma High School.