Spencer Ekenes, violin

Violinist Spencer Ekenes enjoys an active performance career as a recitalist, chamber, and orchestral musician. Since 2019, Spencer has been a member of the Burn City String Quartet and later cofounded its partner ensemble, Broke Fiddles. Spencer is currently principal second violin with MusicaNova Orchestra and has performed with The Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera, AZ Musicfest Orchestra, and Cactus Chamber Musicians. Spencer spends a significant amount of time in Mexico performing in chamber ensembles as well as serving as concertmaster for the OperaMaya Orchestra, where he has also been featured as a soloist. Passionate about the violin/piano duo repertoire, Spencer has performed solo and duo recitals in the United States, Mexico, and Norway. Additionally, Spencer has engaged as a concerto soloist with the BYU-Idaho Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Arizona College Symphony Orchestra, ASU Baroque Ensemble, BYU-Idaho Baroque Ensemble, University of Idaho Festival Orchestra, and the University of Montana Fall Festival Orchestra.

Spencer completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance from Arizona State University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Katherine McLin (ASU) and Dr. Samuel Máynez Champion (Conservatorio Nacional de México), he completed the first publication of the complete works for violin and piano by the late Mexican violinist/composer Samuel Máynez Prince as his culminating project for his doctoral degree. Dr. Ekenes has taught high school orchestra in the Gilbert Public Schools and is active as a guest adjudicator and clinician throughout the greater Phoenix area. Dr. Ekenes has presented and taught masterclasses at high schools, colleges, and universities in Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Kansas, and Washington state. Dr. Ekenes currently teaches an active studio of violin students in Mesa, Arizona.