Teaches in Phoenix, AZ

From Phoenix, Arizona

Plays Violin, and Viola

About

Mila Crise Gallardo is an active performer currently serving the Phoenix area and surroundings. After beginning her music studies in Quito-Ecuador, where she is originally from, Mila earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Western Illinois University and an Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Arizona State University. In 2012 she was a recipient of the International Viola Scholarship granted by Western Illinois University to get her BM studies on a full scholarship. Ms. Crise Gallardo later pursued her MM studies at Arizona State University holding a Teaching Assistantship (TA) for the full period of her musical studies.

Mila has performed on orchestra tours as well as solo and chamber recitals in Ecuador,
Colombia, Brazil and the United States. She has had the privilege of leading the viola section as principal in a number of ensembles, including the ProMusica Arizona Orchestra and Chorale, ASU Chamber Orchestra, Women's Orchestra of Arizona, OU Symphony Orchestra, WIU Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, Muscatine Symphony Orchestra. Currently she lives in Phoenix, Arizona and is involved with music projects, performances and teaching in her Phoenix community.

Among her principal teachers throughout her career include Manuel Ignacio Moreno (Ecuador), Istvan Szabo (Hungary) and Nancy Buck (United States). Mila has participated in music festivals’viola lessons and has played in masterclasses for notable artists, including James Dunham, Masumi Rostad, Rudolf Haken, Andrea Kim, Alexandre Razera and Brett Deubner. Mila is very fond of New Music and a strong advocate of Chamber Music. She has worked closely with living composers and songwriters by performing their works at Phoenix Art Museum and ElectroAcoustic Macomb, among others. As a member of the President’s International String Quartet at Western Illinois University (2012-2016), she got to perform across the Midwest and the established string quartet earned an Honorable Mention at MTNA 2016 competition representing the state of Illinois.

An in-demand teacher, Ms. Crise Gallardo holds a studio from ages ranging 6-17 years old. Her teachings are focused on solo repertoire, orchestra audition preparation and chamber music coaching as well as beginner and intermediate levels. She believes that music can transform people’s lives in a positive manner and help to build relationships between people and their communities. Mila’s teaching philosophy is to motivate her students to create their own paths in the music field.